Embattled Europe: A Progressive Alternative.

• Author: Rozovics, Katlyn M.W.

Jarausch, Konrad H. Embattled Europe: A Progressive Alternative. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2021. 282 pages. Hardcover, $29.99.

Embattled Europe is the newest book by the renowned German historian, Konrad H. Jarausch. The tale is in the title, and Jarausch examines the battle that the European Union is engaged in for its survival. Fighting against the tide of pessimism derived from the Union's rocky experiences in the last two decades, Jarausch refutes the idea that the EU is a failure, believing that the dream of a united Europe is both plausible and wholly necessary. Jarausch covers a wide time frame, from the end of the Second World War to the Covid-19 pandemic, providing along the way important context for some of the EU's greatest recent battles: the implementation of the Euro, the Brexit negotiations, the migrant crisis, threats to regional security, and the rise of the populist right. With this perspective, he maintains these crises should not overshadow the EU's great successes, and he suggests some paths in which it may yet realize its resilient potential.

While Jarausch discusses a wide range of topics across various years, the primary topics of his argument focus upon defensive doctrine, international trade, and national politics. The Union's toughest critics gesture to the Union's failure to respond to the Russian annexation of Crimea, a crisis in its own backyard. Many critics doubt that the EU is prepared to handle the prospect of Trumpism and subsequent US isolationism, a weakened NATO, and the end of nuclear deals with Iran. Jarausch acknowledges the concern, "In truth, the EU is not a military force and may never become a superpower due to underlying diversity" (p. 270). However, Jarausch is not concerned that the EU is not a military power. The EU has preferred to handle international tensions through peaceful means, such as sanctions. He admits, however, that Crimea proved that Europe needs to find a way to react to violence effectively when peaceful solutions have failed. There are such EU defensive structures in the works, like PESCO

(Permanent Structured Cooperation) that seeks to integrate military policy across member states. Jarausch views this as a currently ineffectual body but is hopeful it may yet bear fruit and prove the EU does not require American military aid to solve its problems.

In the realm of trade, the EU has made some of its best progress, which illustrates the continued value of this...