War in Europe?: From Impossible War to Improbable Peace

Description

In this highly provocative and documented book, Thibault Muzergues describes how war in Europe is now more likely than it has been for at least the past 30 years, how it might come back to Europe and what Europeans can do to avoid getting drawn again in fratricide conflicts. Many consider Europe a continent of peace, with NATO guaranteeing its security and the EU providing the political glue for a Europe Whole and Free. But what if this was not the case anymore? What if, after a decade of crisis, today’s Europe was much more fragile than we thought? The author challenges our assumptions about peace in Europe and forces us to face the realities of a world that has become much more dangerous. Far from being apocalyptic, this book serves as an advance warning to the dangers, both internal and external that are now closing in on Europe – and suggests solutions to avoid them. This book will be key reading for those interested in European politics and history, the European Union, security, and strategic studies, and more broadly to current affairs and international relations. Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents About the author Foreword By Daniel Twining Acknowledgments Introduction Notes Bibliography Part 1 War and Europe: It’s a long story Chapter 1 Romance: War and Europe until 1914 War and the state of nature Prisoner of Mars? Ancient culture wars The endless war Mars on steroids Notes Bibliography Chapter 2 Divorce – from the European Civil War to the long peace Causes for a suicide From the Great War to the European Civil War From civil war to total war Peace over the graveyard The end of history and the triumph of peace Notes Bibliography Chapter 3 The toxic ex returns Pax Americana: extension and contestations The return of the German question Enlargement’s side effects North and south Guess who’s back? Dangerous paths Notes Bibliography Part 2 Perilous present Why do wars happen? Notes Bibliography Chapter 4 Division bells Deutschland über alles or Deutschland gegen alle? Notes Bibliography Chapter 5 Baby it’s a wild world: Europe’s external challenges America and Europe Russia, a low-cost power with a high nuisance potential China’s rise, Europe’s fall When Europe imports instability Britain and Europe: friends or foes? Notes Bibliography Chapter 6 War ain’t what it used to be Low intensity and low-cost warfare Mars’s new toys The effects of economic warfare The virtual weapon Disinfo-wars Notes Bibliography Part 3 The future Chapter 7 Seven scenarios for the future of Europe Paralysis War in the Baltics Europe, battlefield of a Sino-American Cold War Southern disintegration The Yellow Vest wars The post-Brexit war A difficult reform Notes Bibliography Chapter 8 What to do? Facing the toxic ex- No salvation beyond NATO Building Europe’s internal market Europe’s “F” word Federalism and nationalisms Dealing with Europe’s borders Notes Bibliography Chapter 9 What’s in it for the Anglosphere? 2016: a turning point Are we all Americans? Euros versus Anglos: a long story Saving the Europe America made Britain and Europe – avoiding catastrophe Reclaiming the West to uphold the peace Notes Bibliography Conclusion: It ain’t over till it’s over Notes Bibliography Index