Can Europe Survive?
The Story of a Continent in a Fractured World
Published on 14. October 2025
Book
Hardback
528 pages
978-0-300-27300-7 (ISBN)
Description
A bold new account of Europe's plight as it faces political fracture, economic stagnation and external challenges from the U.S., China and Russia
Today, Europe finds itself in a fast-changing, polarised world dominated by Chinese-American rivalry. The European Union and its surrounding nonmember states, despite initial successes after the fall of the Berlin Wall, have failed to implement a strategy for success in the twenty-first century. Britain's exit from the Union has weakened both sides, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has thrown these shortcomings into sharp relief. How should states across the continent position themselves in the decades to come?
Drawing on unpublished archives and interviews with over 150 leading figures, David Marsh investigates Europe's present crisis, from the march of populism, Franco-German malaise, and the breakdown of relations with Putin's Russia. Fault lines are emerging in the monetary union, while the fight against climate change has impacted growth. Facing its gravest test since the Second World War, Europe must find fresh reserves of resilience-and seek out renewed international partnerships to ensure success.
Today, Europe finds itself in a fast-changing, polarised world dominated by Chinese-American rivalry. The European Union and its surrounding nonmember states, despite initial successes after the fall of the Berlin Wall, have failed to implement a strategy for success in the twenty-first century. Britain's exit from the Union has weakened both sides, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine has thrown these shortcomings into sharp relief. How should states across the continent position themselves in the decades to come?
Drawing on unpublished archives and interviews with over 150 leading figures, David Marsh investigates Europe's present crisis, from the march of populism, Franco-German malaise, and the breakdown of relations with Putin's Russia. Fault lines are emerging in the monetary union, while the fight against climate change has impacted growth. Facing its gravest test since the Second World War, Europe must find fresh reserves of resilience-and seek out renewed international partnerships to ensure success.
Reviews / Votes
"One of the most knowledgeable observers of Europe."-Martin Wolf, Financial TimesA Financial Times Book of the Year 2025
"For more than a quarter of a century, Marsh has been at the heart of the major political and economic events in the EU. . . . So what he has to say deserves close attention."-Roger Bootle, Telegraph
"Marsh poses a question that has become more urgent than rhetorical, namely whether Europe can survive as a coherent political and economic force. The answer, as his book makes clear, depends less on Europeans knowing what to do than on finding the will to do it."-Amanda Sloat, Financial Times
"Marsh, a leading commentator on European affairs, draws on an unsurpassed store of journalistic contacts, economic insight, and knowledge of how the EU really works to analyze its responses to various crises since 1989. This meaty yet readable book is essential for anyone engaged with European politics."-Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs
"A rich smorgasbord of recent history, buttressed (and enlivened) . . . by Marsh's mastery of the key issues and pertinent developments."-Ian Harwood, Society of Professional Economists
"Exceptionally well-written."-Kingsley Moghalu, Project Syndicate
"Masterful."-Vikram Khanna, Straits Times
"Masterful."-Vikram Khanna, Straits Times
"Excellent."-Brendan Simms, The Critic
"A privilege to read."-Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
"A rare balance of understanding between the people, the politics and the economics."-Philip Zelikow, author of The Road Less Traveled
"David Marsh is the ideal author to point us to the dangers confronting Europe and the ways forward."-Lord Meghnad Desai, author of The Poverty of Political Economy
"David Marsh has once again proven his unique talent for decoding the hidden architecture of European and global monetary power."-Natacha Valla, Dean, School of Management and Innovation, Sciences Po
"A bleak, minutely researched and persuasive analysis of the 'tide of adversity' that has brought Europe to its present pass."-Philip Short, author of Putin: His Life and Times"A masterly account."-Lord Norman Lamont, former British Chancellor of the Exchequer"A masterpiece-full of precious insights."-Jacques de Larosiere, former Managing Director, IMF, and former Governor, Banque de France"A magisterial account of Europe's variable geometry."-Anne Simpson, Global Head of Sustainability, Franklin Templeton"A magnificent book."-Charles Goodhart, co-author of The Great Demographic Reversal"Persistently iconoclastic and interesting."-Harold James, author of Seven Crashes"A tour de force."-Lord David Owen, former British Foreign Secretary"There is no better guide."-Lord Mervyn King, former Governor, Bank of England"A bracing, clear-eyed account of a continent at a crossroads."-Edward Fishman, author of Chokepoints
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 243 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 47 mm
Weight
772 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-27300-7 (9780300273007)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
David Marsh is one of the foremost writers and commentators on European economics, finance, and politics. Co-founder and chairman of the OMFIF economic research group, he is a former Financial Times European editor and the author of six books, including The New Germany, The Euro, and Europe's Deadlock.