Volume 43, Number 12 · July 11, 1996
Europe: The Grand Illusion
By Tony Judt
The European community was founded nearly forty years ago, with the stated object of promoting the 'ever-closer' union of its members. It is a remarkable accomplishment, albeit not quite so remarkable as its advocates suggest. There are few who oppose its objectives in principle, and the practical benefits it affords its members, such as unrestricted trade, are obvious. That, after all, is why nearly everyone wants to join it. It is now engaging in negotiations among its member-states to construct a single European currency and mechanisms for common decision-taking and collective action, while simultaneously holding out to the countries of former Communist Europe the promise of membership in years to come.
Feature, 5788 words
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