Abstract

This article provides a detailed look at several central questions in the recent history of the European Union: monetary union, enlargement, federalism in Europe, Euroscepticism and the role of Europe in international politics. These subjects are covered via a reading of five original recent works (by Michael J. Baun, David P. Calleo, Kenneth Dyson and Kevin Featherstone, John Gillingham and Larry Siedentop). The article concludes by reflecting that the twin challenge of "deepening" and "widening" the European Union after Maastricht has not had the results that were expected and hoped for. The EU is finding that emerging as a coherent international force is beyond it, but that retracing its steps is impossible.