The History of the Idea of Europe

by Boer, Pim Den; Wilson, Kevin; Van Der Dussen, Jan; Bugge, Peter; Waever, Ole; Wilson, Kevin; Dussen, W. J. van der

• ISBN13: 9780415124140
• ISBN10: 041512414X
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1995-08-01
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book puts the idea of Europe in its historical context, tracing it back to the ancient Greeks and their association of Europe with political freedom. From this starting point the first essay shows how Europe became identified with Christendom in the fifteenth century and with 'civilization' in the eighteenth, before being used by nineteenth-century reformers and reactionaries either to promote change or to defend the status quo.
Twentieth-century developments are the focus for discussion in the other two essays. A number of 'projects' for Europe are examined against the background of the two world wars, consideration is given to recent trends towards political and economic integration and an assessment is offered of the contemporary relevance of the European idea.

Table of Contents

General preface to 'What is Europe?'	p. 7
Introduction to Book 1	p. 9
Europe to 1914: The making of an idea	p. 13
Europe and Antiquity	p. 14
Europe in biblical commentary	p. 19
Europe and the Middle Ages	p. 26
Europe and Christendom	p. 32
European rulers and the balance of power	p. 38
Representations of Europe	p. 44
The civilization of Europe	p. 58
1789-1848: different ideas of Europe	p. 65
Europe in the grip of nationalism (1848-1941)	p. 75
Europe 1914-1945: the nation supreme	p. 83
The nation supreme: the idea of Europe 1914-1945	p. 84
Projects for Europe	p. 88
Perceptions of Europe	p. 113
Europe since 1945: crisis to renewal	p. 151
Europe in the hands of the receiver	p. 151
Europe as a common destiny?	p. 175
The idea of Europe	p. 202
Acknowledgements	p. 215
Notes on contributors	p. 215
Index	p. 217
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