Why Europe Fears Its Neighbors

(Hardback)

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Working from a unique viewpoint, this volume demonstrates how the European Union's fear of its neighbors reflects Europe's identity crisisand challenges its survival. Taking a novel approach to the current situation in Europe, foreign policy analyst Fabrizio Tassinari transforms external policy concerns about Europe's neighborhood into questions about Europe's internal future. His contention: that the situation on Europe's periphery is an unforgiving mirror of its identity crisis, institutional paralysis, ineffectual foreign policy, and morbid fear of migrants and multiculturalism. Looking at each of the countries and regions surrounding Europe, from Russia and Turkey to the Western Balkans and North Africa, Tassinari unravels the challenges facing the EU, weighs the record of its policies, and explains how both can be traced back to Europe's inherent insecurity. Turning conventional wisdom on its head, he argues that gradual and diversified forms of integration with its many neighbors is Europe's best alternative to a progressive, but inexorable fragmentation of the EU. The ability to meet this challenge will not only test Europe's unfulfilled global aspirations, it will be crucial to its very survival.

Reviews

Tassinari, a foreign policy analyst, addresses the political, societal, and economic predicament in Europe's backyardthe Balkans, Turkey, the westernmost former Soviet republics, Russia, and the Mediterranean areato examine how security concerns define Europe's policies and its identity. Arguing against conventional wisdom, he contends that gradual integration with its many neighbors is Europe's best alternative to fragmentation. His thesis is supported with primary sources and examples of the prevailing European discourse on each of the neighboring countries and regions. The book is aimed at academics and general readers. * Reference & Research Book News *
Recommended. General readers, upper-division undergraduate students, and above. * Choice *
Why Europe Fears its Neighbors provides deep and unconventional insight into the European Union's neighbourhood policy and identity. The comprehensible language makes the book accessible not only to scholars looking for an out-of-line opinion, but also to a more general readership that wants a critical explanation of EU foreign policy. * The International Spectator *

Author Bio

Fabrizio Tassinari is a senior fellow and Head of the Foreign Policy and EU Studies Unit at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen.