AS NEW COPY. Since 1945, the European states which had previously glamourised their military elites, and made going to war the highest expression of patriotism, have renounced violence as a way of settling their disputes. Violence has been eclipsed as a tool of statesmen. This astonishing reversal is the subject of James Sheehan’s masterly book. It is also a timely reminder of the differences between Europe and America, at a time when the USA is asserting its right and duty to make war for ideological or self-interested ends. And how Europeans will live in this dangerous, violent world is a question that becomes ever more urgent as the chaos in the Middle East affects the stability of societies with open frontiers and liberal traditions.
xx, 284 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. #230122 First Edition.
“Genuinely interesting, the author points out that displays of military vigour were widespread in Europe at the start of the 20th century and all nations prepared for war by the end of the century despite many EU discussions no EU nation really expects, prepares or intends war. He details the largely forgotten peace movements of the early 1900’s and refers to works of that time predicting that any war would be ruinous.WW1 follows and the aftermath with pacifists trying again to advance the cause of peace while militarism took hold in other nations and individuals resulting in an even more destructive war. The development of the EEC and the preference for butter not guns and the success of this. With the close of the cold war various announcements of the EU foreign policy ambitions were made. However presented with collapse of Yugoslavia Europe could neither comprehend the attitudes nor respond effectively.”