Europe's Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age

by Steven Hill

A quiet revolution has been occurring in post-World War II Europe. A world power has emerged across the Atlantic that is recrafting the rules for how a modern society should provide economic security, environmental sustainability, and global stability. In Europe's Promise , Steven Hill explains Europe's bold new vision. For a decade Hill traveled widely to understand this uniquely European way of life. He shatters myths and shows how Europe's leadership manifests in five major areas: economic strength, with Europe now the world's wealthiest trading bloc, nearly as large as the U.S. and China combined ; the best health care and other workfare supports for families and individuals; widespread use of renewable energy technologies and conservation; the world's most advanced democracies; and regional networks of trade, foreign aid, and investment that link one-third of the world to the European Union. Europe's Promise masterfully conveys how Europe has taken the lead in this make-or-break century challenged by a worldwide economic crisis and global warming.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, International Relations, Political Science

488 pages, Hardcover

First published December 20, 2009

Reviews

[David Jedeikin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having traveled through Europe for two months a couple of years ago and having been dazzled by the Continent's modernity and sophistication -- coupled with the heritage cities and art we all know so well -- I sought out a book that would explain what I'd just seen. This book does it: a phenomenal, if sometimes a bit angry with America's abject failure to get with the program, review of what makes Europe tick. America's grown so accustomed to and complacent in its role of "lone superpower" that it seems to have forgotten or ignored the place it helped liberate and rebuild -- a place which is now eclipsing it in so many areas. Europe once again is a beacon for the world -- and in a far more beneficent manner than it was in its bloody, imperialist past. This book dispels the illusions and debunks the myths about the world's most relevant first-world super-region now in the early, uncertain decades of the twenty-first century.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good introduction on how to construct a better, if not a model, society. Written expressly for Americans on the cusp of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, the author makes a long and well-referenced comparison between the flawed American way based on rugged individualism and a much better worker-based organization method that large parts of Europe employ to stand apart from the sclerotic colossus that tries to beat the rest of the world into its own flawed image. Without wasting much time enumerating the American way, Hill introduces the European way of harnessing the populace into an educated workforce that enjoys the kind of freedom and security that the vanishing middle class in America can dream of and work towards. The author uses voluminous correspondence and interviews with high officials to get a grasp of how Europe works. Government of the people should be harnessed to work for the working people, and Europe shows us how it can be done. Childcare, healthcare, education, are stipends of a large percentage of former wages to cushion the gap between jobs are all aspects that Europeans take for granted and seem utter utopian anomalies in the American mindset. This was a thoroughly illuminating and revelatory read. The language was flowing and required only a few reaches for the dictionary. Its only shortcoming was the lack of evaluating why Americans are happily shackled with such a subpar system.

[Kiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the basics of the European Social Democratic governance model, written with a journalist's flair and an eye on the facts. Granted, some of the statistics are outdated, as this book was written in 2010, but most of Hill's points still ring true. Now, if only we could get these programs going in the US...

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book to acquaint yourself with modern European political, economic and social issues, but beware Hill's often one-sided, anecdotal or country/region- specific evidence to the greatness of Europe. Hill's piece of Euroworship stands in opposition to those American skeptics who too quickly write-off Europe as socialist, and therefore irrelevant. Both Hill and his opponents are guilty of painting a biased picture, and this portrait of Europe is certainly rose-colored.

[Kyle Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Euro-optimism at it's finest. Good read, but must be understood in context of the current political situation and opinions must be taken with a grain of salt.

[Chelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think Europe isthe best thing since sliced bread like Hill you will love this book. He makes some good arguments but others not so good.