Overview

An alternative account of the EU as a racialised project The European Union is often seen as a cosmopolitan rejection of violent nationalism. Yet the idea of Europe has a long, problematic history—in medieval times, it was synonymous with Christianity; in the modern era, it became associated with ‘whiteness’. Eurowhiteness exposes the EU as a vehicle for imperial amnesia. Narratives of European integration emphasise the lessons of war and the Holocaust, but not the lessons of colonial history. The EU is about power as much as peace—and civic ideas of Europe are being displaced by ethnic and cultural ones. Since the 2015 refugee crisis, whiteness has become even more central to European identity—a troubling new turn in Europe’s long civilisational project. It is time to confront the relationship between ideas of Europe and ideas of race.

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9781805260813

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Reviews

"'A fascinating book challenging the myths surrounding the EU. For some, this will be uncomfortable reading.' -- Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe 'Kundnani shows that ideas of race are central to European thinking about politics. In the shadow of Ukraine, it's important for us to face this truth.' -- Kwame Anthony Appiah, author of 'The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity' 'A bracing challenge to the myths underlying the ""European Project"", and to the hollowness of contemporary cosmopolitanism.' -- Kenan Malik, author of 'Not So Black and White' 'Kundnani asks some hard and important questions about the EU's history, and his answers illuminate a great deal about European self-understanding.' -- Helen Thompson, co-host of Talking Politics 'Elegantly logical -- and sure to challenge many readers' assumptions.' -- Brendan Simms, author of 'Europe: The Struggle for Supremacy' and 'Britain's Europe'"

Author Information

Hans Kundnani is an associate fellow and former Europe programme director at Chatham House, and the author of 'Utopia or Auschwitz' and 'The Paradox of German Power,' both published by Hurst. Hans writes regularly for 'The Observer', 'The Guardian', 'The New Statesman' and 'Foreign Affairs', among others.

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