The European Union and its Political Leaders. Understanding the Integration Process

Abstract:

This book focuses on the impact of political leaders on the integration process led by the European Union (EU). It aims at a better understanding of the European Union through the actions, contributions, and ideas of these outstanding characters to European integration and disintegration. By doing so, the book offers an entirely new perspective, presenting the actions of the main actors involved, their background, their historical time, their challenges and problems, and how they influenced the European Union's development.

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.

Table of Contents:

1. The Essence of Europe: Understanding Europe Through Its Designers | David Ramiro Troitiño
2. George of Poděbrady: The Role of External Stimulus to the European Integration | David Ramiro Troitiño
3. Charles-Irénée Castel, Abbé de Saint-Pierre: The Role of Religion in the European Integration | David Ramiro Troitiño
4. Immanuel Kant: The Idea of Progress and European Integration | David Ramiro Troitiño
5. Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos: And Other Europeanists in Favour of the Socio-economic Well-Being of the Nations of Europe | Ricardo Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo Á. Pérez Sánchez & Luis Alberto Moratinos Lagartos
6. Victor Hugo: And Other Pro- “Good Governance” and “United States of Europe” Europeanists | Ricardo Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo Á. Pérez Sánchez & Luis Alberto Moratinos Lagartos
7. Richard N. Coudenhove-Kalergi | Ricardo Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo Á. Pérez Sánchez & Luis Alberto Moratinos Lagartos
8. Aristide Briand: Cooperation as the Motor of Europe | David Ramiro Troitiño
9. José Ortega y Gasset | Ricardo Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo Á. Pérez Sánchez & Luis Alberto Moratinos Lagartos
10. Madariaga and the Search for a Free Europe | José Ramón Rodríguez Lago & Luis Domínguez Castro
11. Denis de Rougemont: An Europos Federalist | Luis Domínguez Castro & José Ramón Rodríguez Lago
12. Julián Marías Aguilera | Ricardo Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo Á. Pérez Sánchez & Luis Alberto Moratinos Lagartos
13. Jean Monnet: Neofunctionalism at Work in the European Integration | David Ramiro Troitiño
14. Altiero Spinelli: Federalism in the European Integration | Cecilia Valente, Carola D’alessandro & David Ramiro Troitiño
15. Robert Schuman: And the Pro-European Political Generation of 1950 | Ricardo Martín de la Guardia, Guillermo Á. Pérez Sánchez & Luis Alberto Moratinos Lagartos
16. Winston Churchill: Cooperation and British Support to the European Integration | David Ramiro Troitiño
17. De Gaulle: The Role of the Member States in the European Union | David Ramiro Troitiño
18. Margaret Thatcher: British Strategy in the European Integration | David Ramiro Troitiño
19. Helmut Kohl: The German Reunification and the Genesis of the European Union | David Ramiro Troitiño