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Book Review: Rethinking Europe's Future, November 7, 2002
In his book, Rethinking Europes Future, David P. Calleo encapsulates the history, theory, and reasoning behind Europes struggle for peaceful inter-state relations and presents new ideas for Europes future course. In three parts, encompassing sixteen chapters, he covers a wide variety of topics from economic theory, international relations theory, to history and the role of complex inter-dependence. Of note is his discourse on the past, present, and future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, and the European Unions (EUs) quest for a Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP. Furthermore, his work is strongly supported by many past, and recent, historical case studies that impacted Europes course, and still linger in the minds of present day decision- makers.
Part 1, Europes Living History, covers the gambit of Europes violent history from the wars of Napoleon and German Unification, through World War I and II. In this part, Calleo outlines the multi-faceted causes of Europes most violent wars and relates them to economics, and to both the development and implementation of international-relations theory nested within economic theory. This is a truly remarkable feat, as well as a good review of both economic and basic international relations theory, as it is written in a manner that a novice could follow.
Part 2, Legacies of the Cold War, outlines, as the title implies, the interstate system that developed in the after-math of World War II, as well as explores the development of NATO and the role of Unites States (US) hegemony in both European and global affairs. To this end, the author discusses in detail the effects of bi-polar action, America vs. the Soviet Union, as well as the effects of globalization on both Europe and the world political economy. He then synthesizes these into a very coherent concluding chapter, Cold War Lessons, Old and New. Of note in this chapter, is Calleos discourse on Gaullist policy and decision-making, and the fact that in the present day EU, state sovereignty is stronger because of the Gaullist legacy.
Part 3, The New Europe, covers old, as well as new paradigms for the future Europe, as well as the role of the US and Russia within them. As with most contemporary authors, he asserts that not one paradigm, but multiple paradigms, must be applied to discern Europes future, as well as the future of NATO (in particular the US) and Russia in regards to both Europe and Asia. To this end, he asserts that Europe must make accord with both the US (NATO) and Russia, and that the US must redefine its involvement within European affairs, as well as with Russia and Asia. Furthermore, the EU, Russia, and the US must find some common policy in dealing with Asia (China, in particular) that encompasses both security and economic affairs.
In short, Rethinking Europes Future is a powerful book that synthesizes the writings of many scholars into a short and easily understandable work that is both nested and logically sequential, but clearly maintains the authors own thoughts and ideas. However, it has a few shortcomings. First, the author covers the impact of a myriad of issues on Europe, the US, Russia, and China, but he neglects the global south- Africa, South America, and the poorer parts of Asia and the Middle-east. This is a significant shortcoming, as some of these regions hold significant natural resources and population bases that will have large global consequences in the near future if not properly addressed, and the disparity of economic wealth and political stability between North and South continues to grow. By not addressing this topic, it is as if Calleo is implying that this region of the globe is insignificant, or that perhaps the Northern Regions will once again embark on a quest of Empire building, as a bloc, within the global south as the northern and Asia markets become fully exploited or depleted. Perhaps, he is implying, by omission, another Race for Africa in the 21st Century.
Finally, while Calleos argument for the US to rethink its position in Europe (NATO) and with Russia, and for Europe to seek simultaneous accord with both Russia and NATO has significant merit, it is easier said than done. Balancing one major alliance is hard enough for a state, a confederation, or a federation, to accomplish. Balancing more than one, successfully, is a major challenge. Furthermore, the Asian tigers- China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, etc- are not likely to stand idly by and allow themselves to be outmaneuvered economically or in the area of security, which Calleo takes great pains to illuminate, is strongly intermeshed with economic success. Therefore, while Calleos suggestion is great for Europe, Russia, and North America, it is not necessarily viable without further study into the impacts on Asia as a whole. Potentially, forcing Asian countries to ally with China, which has its own global agenda, has significant negative repercussions for the world as a whole.
In conclusion, Rethinking Europes Future is a good thought-provoking book for anyone in politics, the state department, or the military, that deals with European affairs. It synopsizes the salient historical, economic, and theoretical points involved with European statecraft, as well as the role of the US, although some areas need further study. Parts 1 and 2, in particular, are exceedingly well written and provide a good review of history and relevant theory. Calleos take on Gaullist policymaking is exceedingly interesting, as well as his review of mercantilism. It makes one wonder if mercantilism is not back in vogue, but with the added impetus of the forces of globalization. Thus, confirming Adam Smiths worst fears of special interest, in guise of giant multinational corporations, meshed with government, possibly driving the world political economy from behind the scenes in the 21st Century.
Works Consulted
David P. Calleo, Rethinking Europes Future. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University
Press, 2001.
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