Commentary
Richard Youngs
Book
The Uncertain Legacy of Crisis
The European Union is mired in the worst crisis it has seen for many decades. And the crisis does not stop at Europe’s edge.
Published on Jan 20, 2014
The European Union is mired in the worst crisis it has seen for many decades. And the crisis does not stop at Europe’s edge. It threatens to undercut the EU’s ambitions to develop a coherent and active foreign policy, but it is also forcing European states to reevaluate their approach to security and defense.
Richard Youngs examines the legacy of the crisis and what it will mean for the EU’s international role. The fallout undermines the EU’s foreign policy capacity and tarnishes its normative brand, compelling some member states to focus on realpolitik and their own national-level policies. But there are also signs of enhanced European cooperation, greater international ambition, and deepened commitment to the values of a liberal world order. Youngs details how the EU can craft an eff ective foreign policy strategy while confronting an internal economic crisis and a reshaped global order.
Advance Praise
“Youngs approaches complex geopolitical issues with elegance and deep knowledge. I found this book fresh, erudite, and, above all, a helpful companion in navigating the unchartered waters of a globalized world.”
—Radoslaw Sikorski, Minister of Foreign A ffairs of the Republic of Poland
“A most refreshing and well-written work that dispels many oversimplified thoughts and confirms what practitioners have experienced in recent years.”
—Pierre Vimont, Executive Secretary General, European External Action Service
“A valuable analysis from a seasoned international commentator on how the long economic crisis has intensified the birth pangs of Europe’s common foreign and security policy.”
—John Peet, Europe Editor, Economist
About the Author
Richard Youngs
Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program
Richard Youngs is a senior fellow in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, based at Carnegie Europe. He works on EU foreign policy and on issues of international democracy.
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Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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