The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent 1945-2002 - Tapa dura

A history of post-World War II Europe documents its political and social struggles, considering the war's impact of European society, the role of the U.S. and the former Soviet Union on postwar settlement, and the contributions of such leaders as Charles de Gaulle and Margaret Thatcher.

he ashes of World War II to the advent of the Euro, the definitive history of the postwar rebirth of Europe by one of our finest young historians.

After a century of war, genocide, and ideological rivalry, Europe has at last emerged as a continent striving for stability, tolerance, democracy and prosperity. Yet the making of today’s Europe has not been easy. Its success was achieved only after a half-century of struggle between capitalism and Communism, between the forces of integration and the forces of nationalism, between the ideals of fairness and justice and a legacy of racism and inequality. In fact, as the recent rise of far-right extremism demonstrates, this contest is not over.

William Hitchcock’s sweeping new survey fills a critical gap in the writing on postwar Europe. The Struggle for Europe starts by assessing the impact of World War II on European politics and society and the foundations of Europe’s extraordinary economi