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Pandemonium: Saving Europe
Over the past decade the European Union has faced threats to its currency, borders and unity. Covid-19, which began its inexorable spread across Europe in February 2020, is the latest crisis to test the Union’s resilience.
Luuk van Middelaar’s compelling analysis of the EU’s response to the pandemic details how events and decisions unfolded, how crisis solutions were improvised in a situation of deep uncertainty, and the lessons it must learn if it is to continue to protect its citizens.
As member states shut their borders and scrambled for supplies, the European Union at first appeared irrelevant. But once shaken from its torpor by a public cry for help, the EU has coordinated a formidable response to the chaos, including an unprecedented level of financial assistance. This reaction, argues van Middelaar, demonstrates the Union’s enduring strength and how it has learnt to deal with real world events. Indeed, the EU’s response to the pandemic reveals how far it has come on its journey from regulatory body to geopolitical actor.
The pandemic highlighted that Europe’s next challenge will most likely come from its uneasy position between a strategically assertive China and a more self-centred United States. Facing this will require a greater political will than that mustered in the health emergency. To become a true power among powers, Van Middelaar contends, Europe must give firmer political shape to its own historical and cultural identity.
Pandemonium cements Luuk van Middelaar’s position as one of the most insightful commentators on EU politics. His powerful analysis will be welcomed by anyone seeking to understand Europe’s dynamics and changing geopolitical role.
Luuk van Middelaar’s compelling analysis of the EU’s response to the pandemic details how events and decisions unfolded, how crisis solutions were improvised in a situation of deep uncertainty, and the lessons it must learn if it is to continue to protect its citizens.
As member states shut their borders and scrambled for supplies, the European Union at first appeared irrelevant. But once shaken from its torpor by a public cry for help, the EU has coordinated a formidable response to the chaos, including an unprecedented level of financial assistance. This reaction, argues van Middelaar, demonstrates the Union’s enduring strength and how it has learnt to deal with real world events. Indeed, the EU’s response to the pandemic reveals how far it has come on its journey from regulatory body to geopolitical actor.
The pandemic highlighted that Europe’s next challenge will most likely come from its uneasy position between a strategically assertive China and a more self-centred United States. Facing this will require a greater political will than that mustered in the health emergency. To become a true power among powers, Van Middelaar contends, Europe must give firmer political shape to its own historical and cultural identity.
Pandemonium cements Luuk van Middelaar’s position as one of the most insightful commentators on EU politics. His powerful analysis will be welcomed by anyone seeking to understand Europe’s dynamics and changing geopolitical role.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 16, 2022
Yet again Luuk van Middelaar presents a brilliant analysis of current European affairs, not pulling any punches. I found that the criticisms of, for examples, the common PPE procurement, were fair. On the other hand, the author gave credit where credit was due, most notably regarding the speed, size and ambition of the NextGenerationEU package. In relation to that, I found the analysis regarding the circumstances that led to the success story that is NextGenEU very interesting. For instance, the author makes a point regarding Brexit almost being a blessing in disguise as well as all draws a lot of parallels with and lessons learnt from the euro crisis. Overall, the author does a very good job explaining what made the COVID crisis different from previous ones.
The book also includes a very good overview of the main developments during the early days of the COVID pandemic.
I find the distinction between rules-politics and events-politics, which is an approach the author has used in his previous books when analysing europolitics, a very appropriate way of looking at the circumstances of the pandemic and Europe's reaction.
The book also includes a very good overview of the main developments during the early days of the COVID pandemic.
I find the distinction between rules-politics and events-politics, which is an approach the author has used in his previous books when analysing europolitics, a very appropriate way of looking at the circumstances of the pandemic and Europe's reaction.
January 16, 2022
I just finished reading Luuk van Middelaar's latest book 'Pandemonium: Saving Europe'. Like his previous books, it's a well-written and captivating story that encapsulates a lot of fresh big-picture thinking. In a nutshell, it's an account of the way in which european governance evolved in response to the unfolding polycrisis - starting with the financial crisis and stretching to the latest pandemic-related events. Its main strength is that it relates detailed institutional knowledge to recent events within an integrated, albeit open-ended, narrative.
May 9, 2022
Great essay, which analyses how, due to certain choices, the pandemic reinfoced the EU political project and allowed the EU to better understand its position in the world. Interesting lessons, and messages, which now, in the middle of another big crisis, seem to be confirmed.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews