European Integration

Mark Gilbert is resident professor of international history at SAIS Europe, the Bologna Center of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University. He was the 2018 Chair of Jury for the Cundill History Prize.

• Ch. 1: IntroductionCh. 2: The Ideal of European UnityCh. 3: The Europe of SixCh. 4: From Messina to RomeCh. 5: In the Shadow of the General Ch. 6: Weathering StormsCh. 7: Consolidation and InnovationCh.8: Widening and DeepeningCh.9: The Maastricht CompromiseCh. 10: EUphoriaCh. 11: The Challenge of the PoliticalCh. 12: Brexit

This is an excellent starting place for anyone wishing to understand how the European Union has developed over time—and to reflect upon how this development might shape its present and future. Mark Gilbert’s thoughtful analysis is well rooted in the history and political science literature about the integration process but also demonstrates his ability to stand back from the day-to-day controversies about the EU and look at its evolution in fair-minded fashion.