“An indispensable, lucid guide to the origins and recent development of the European Union…. Judicious and authoritative in his curation of historical facts and details about the individuals, social forces, and geopolitics that shaped key developments of the EU, Dinan provides deep insights and clarity about the EU’s accomplishments and its shortcomings…. This up-to-date history of the EU is unparalleled—eloquent and engaging in its narrative and compelling in its final analysis that ‘the EU is worth fighting for.’” —Vicki L. Birchfield, Georgia Institute of Technology“This is modern European history at its best…. Dinan offers a balanced and up-to-date narrative of European integration from its inception in the post–World War II period to the present, with special emphasis on the contemporary European Union, its institutional and legal structures, the management of the crises it has encountered, its continuing relevance, and its future. His book will establish itself as one of the best concise introductions to the EU for not only students, but also any other readers interested in a deeper understanding of contemporary European affairs.” —Yannis A. Stivachtis, Virginia Tech University What explains the remarkable evolution of the European Union since its emergence in the early 1990s? How has the EU coped with a series of severe shocks, ranging from the euro crisis to Brexit to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? How is it dealing with the rise of illiberal democracy in some of its member states? And why is it more contested, while at the same time more relevant, than ever before?

Addressing these questions, this concise text—authoritative, engaging, and well written—traces the development of the EU from its inception to the present. It is ideal for use in the early weeks of courses on European or EU politics, as well as for the EU portion of courses on contemporary European history.