Euroscepticisms: The Historical Roots of a Political Challenge

Euroscepticism has become a political challenge of imposing size. The belief that the EU would continue, inexorably, to increase its responsibilities, its membership, and its credibility with the electorates of Europe seems like a pipedream. Almost every major European country now has a political party (whether of the left or right) that is openly opposed to the EU’s institutions and core policies. However, a political phenomenon on this scale did not spring up, mushroom-like, overnight. Sentiments, attitudes and political standpoints against the European Union have deep roots in the national histories of the various member states. This book assembles a group of scholars from across Europe to investigate the long-term origins and causes of Euroscepticism in an apposite range of EU countries.

Contributors are: Gabriele D'Ottavio, Kira Gartzou-Katsouyanni, Mark Gilbert, Adéla Gjuričová, Simona Guerra, Thorsten Borring Olesen, Daniele Pasquinucci, Emmanuelle Reungoat, Paul Taggart, Antonio Varsori, and Hans Vollaard.

Mark Gilbert, Ph.D., Wales, is Professor of History and International Studies at the School for Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of European Integration. A Political History (Rowman and Littlefield, forthcoming 2020).

Daniele Pasquinucci, Ph.D., University of Pavia, is Professor of History of International Relations and Jean Monnet Chair at the Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences of the University of Siena. He has written extensively about the history of European integration.