The authors in detail discuss different ideas connected to leaders, such as Jean Monnet and neo-functionalism, Spinelli and federalism or Churchill and the idea of cooperation. Furthermore, the book examines major policies and events, like the Common Agricultural Policy, the creation of the Euro as a consequence of the German reunification and Mitterrand’s reactions, or Brexit and its connection to the impact of Margaret Thatcher.
The global essence of the book makes it a must-read for students, researchers, and scholars interested in a better understanding of the European Union's integration process.
Ricardo Martín de la Guardia is a Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Valladolid (Spain) and a Jean Monnet Professor for the History of the European Union since January 2020. Previously, he was the Director of the Institute of European Studies at the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, University of Valladolid, between 2009 and 2013. His research focuses on international relations and European integration. Martín de la Guardia is the author, co-author, or editor of various books, journal articles, and book chapters, including the Springer volume "The EU in the 21st Century" (2020) as a co-editor.