Last Days of Europe: Epitaph for an Old Continent »

Walter Laqueur has written more than twenty books, translated into as many languages. He was a cofounder and editor of the Journal of Contemporary History in London. Concurrently he was chairman of the International Research Council of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He has taught at Georgetown, Chicago, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Brandeis, and Tel Aviv universities. He lives in Washington, D.C.

A lucid analysis, by a European-born master historian, of the demographic and cultural upheaval that is changing the face and character of Europe as we know it.

Foreign Affairs

The author, a veteran historian originally from Germany, is worried about Europe's future, which he only hopes will be "more than that of a museum." The causes of Europe's troubles, in Laqueur's view, are demographic decline, the failure to integrate new, mostly Muslim immigrants, economic stagnation (due to an overly generous welfare state and an aversion to work), and the stalling of the European integration process. The text of the book is more balanced than its alarmist title, but it may still be gloomier than is merited by the facts. Europe has real problems, but it is still far more prosperous, more stable, more attractive, and more influential globally than nearly all other continents or countries -- and probably still will be in 20 years. Laqueur's Europessimism also assumes Europe to be incapable of adjustment or renewal -- an assumption that can perhaps now be challenged as economic growth has picked up across the continent and France and Germany have elected reformist leaders. The French and some others, mostly in northern Europe, have even started having more babies. The Last Days of Europe is a good primer on the challenges Europe faces, but the epitaph is premature.<

Preface vii

Introduction 1

A Very Brief Trip Through a Future Europe 1

The Last Days of Old Europe 8

1 Europe Shrinking 21

2 Migrations 33

France: Algeria to Paris 49

Germany: Eastern Anatolia to Berlin 60

United Kingdom: Bangladesh to the East End 69

Islamophobia and Discrimination 79

Euro Islam and Tariq Ramadan 88

Islamist Violence in Europe 95

3 The Long Road to European Unity 107

4 The Trouble with the Welfare State 123

Germany 135

France 139

United Kingdom 142

Italy and Spain 144

5 Russia: A False Dawn? 149

6 The Failure of Integration, and Europe's Future 167

What Went Wrong? 167

Europe: What Remains? 174

The Future of Muslim Europe: United Kingdom 178

The Future of Muslim Europe: France 188

The Future of Muslim Europe: Germany 191

Spain 196

Dreaming of a United Europe 199

Salvaging the Welfare State 202

Toward Binational States? 204

Turkey to the Rescue? 223

Afterword to the Paperback Edition 227

Bibliography 231

Index 239