A balanced narrative of European integration since its inception to the present, this book remains the standard for concise histories of the EU. Set in the post-war period, Gilbert concludes by considering the EU’s future in light of the crisis that has taken hold in the aftermath of the global recession, the refugee crisis, and Brexit.



Now in a fully revised and updated edition, this book remains the standard for concise histories of the European Union. Mark Gilbert offers a clear and balanced narrative of European integration since its inception to the present, set in the wider history of the post-war period. Gilbert concludes by considering the Union’s future in light of the mood of crisis that has taken hold in the EU in the aftermath of the global recession, the refugee crisis, and Brexit.