Book description
Those who believe Europe to be weak and ineffectual are wrong. Turning
conventional wisdom on its head Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century
sets out a vision for a century in which Europe will dominate, not
America. This is the book that will make your mind up about Europe.
Those who believe Europe is weak and ineffectual are wrong. Turning
conventional wisdom on its head, Mark Leonard, one of the UK's most
visionary thinkers, argues that Europe is remaking the world in its own image.
Europe only looks dead because it is seen through American eyes. But
America's reach is shallow and narrow. It can bribe, bully or impose its
will anywhere in the world, but when its back is turned its potency
wanes. Europe's reach is broad and deep, spreading its values from
Albania to Zambia. It brings other countries into its orbit rather than
defining itself against them, and once countries come under the
influence of its laws and customs they are changed for ever.
This book sets up a challenge: to regard Europe not as a tangle of
bureaucracy and regulation, but as a revolutionary model for the future.
We cannot afford to forget that Europe was founded to protect us against
war and that it is now key to the spread of democracy. 'Why Europe Will
Run the 21st Century' addresses Europe's place in the world, looks to
the past and the future and argues, provocatively, that it can and will
shape a new and better world order. 'Mark Leonard deserves to be
listened to.' Independent
'Mark Leonard has done that rare thing; he has reshaped how we look at
the world … This is a refreshing, compelling and above all optimistic
book that moves the European debate onto wholly new ground. British
Eurosceptics beware.'
Will Hutton, author of 'The State We're In'
'Mark Leonard's views are always adventurous and stimulating - and “Why
Europe will run the 21st Century” sustains those attributes. It also
confirms that, in useful contrast to the unilateralist 'New American
Century' doctrine of US Republicans, Europe's contribution to the era
will be multilateralist. In the age of increased globalisation and
intensified interdependence, that has the strength of common sense.'
Neil Kinnock Mark Leonard founded the leading independent think tank
The Foreign Policy Centre at the age of 24, under the patronage of the
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and is now Executive Director of The
European Council on Foreign Relations'. When he was only 23, Mark wrote
the famous pamphlet, 'Rebranding Britain', coining the phrase 'Cool
Britannia'. He has written regular commentary for all the leading
newspapers and magazines, has presented the BBC' Analysis programme, and
has appeared as a commentator on CNN and on all of Britain's most
prestigious news programmes (from Today and Newsnight to the Jimmy Young
Programme and Start the Week). Mark was named by the Sunday Times as one
of the 500 most influential powerful people in Britain. He is 31 years
old.
