Crisis and Renewal: An Introduction to the European Union

(Paperback)

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This clear and comprehensive introduction to the European Union considers its development through the theme of crisis and renewal. John Van Oudenaren describes EU institutions and policies, both historically and as they relate to current events. He traces the renewal of the EU that was underway at the end of the 2010s following the euro, migration, and Brexit crises and the health, economic, and political crisis that subsequently hit the Union with unexpected force in the coronavirus pandemic of 20202021. Exploring how institutions and policies are adapting to unprecedented political, economic, and geopolitical challenges, the author focuses on two key EU prioritiesdigitization and the transition to a carbon neutral future. These, he argues, are both intrinsic policy goals and the means by which the Union hopes to ensure its revitalization and its emergence as a sovereign power, taking its place alongside the United States and China as one of the big three players in global politics. Explaining the different theoretical perspectives used to understand the EU, the book gives students the tools they need to assess whether the Union is on a path to recovery and renewal.

Reviews

This highly readable volume is a foundational text. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Europes radical experiment in ever closer Unionand its ongoing challenges. -- Daniel S. Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
John Van Oudenaren provides an outstanding historical as well as analytical account of Europes remake as a union. This is a much-needed tool for students seeking to understand how a recast Europe works. It will also be a valuable reference for practitioners who need to understand how the European Union will help to write the story of the new century and will shape current and future trends in transatlantic relations. -- Simon Serfaty, emeritus, Old Dominion University
Magisterial. Anyone looking to get a deeper understanding of Europes decade of crises and various attempts at renewal would do well to read John Van Oudenarens Crisis and Renewal. In this superb account of European integration, the author thoughtfully unpacks both the history and multiple layers of Europes evolving supranational polity and charts a compelling course for the European project to flourish in the twenty-first century. -- Matthias Matthijs, Johns Hopkins University

Author Bio

John Van Oudenaren is a Global Fellow at the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, specializing in both EU and Russian affairs. Previously, he held senior positions at the Library of Congress, including director of Scholarly and Educational Programs, director of the World Digital Library, and chief of the European Division. He was the founding director of RAND Europe and has taught at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.