This book does not opt for a facile definition of old versus new, choosing instead to explore the conflicting experiences of political elites and ordinary citizens and what constitutes 'belonging' from these different perspectives.

International Affairs

For a student of literature it is eminently gratifying to see a prominent political scientist factor works of the literary imagination into his riveting account of contemporary Europe's intricate negotiation of its multi-layered, old/new identity. As it panoramically canvasses the sea changes overtaking the continent, this timely book bridges not only disparate scholarly fields and academic disciplines but also different research methodologies, evaluative criteria, conflicting narratives, and alternative strategies of identity formation.

Muhammad Siddiq, University of California, Berkeley

How do Europeans see each other and those immigrants who have come from other parts of the world? And how do persistent negative images affect the project of European integration? Digging deeply into a broad repertoire of academic writing, political discourse, survey data, and contemporary novels, Ray Taras does a very good job in gathering and presenting the evidence. What he finds is sobering for Europhiles as well as Eurosceptics.

Rainer Bauböck, European University Institute

Taras presents a wide-ranging and engaging analysis of the condition of contemporary Europe. Using a combination of historical, cultural, and political approaches, he deals with its institutions and policies, its hopes and uncertainties. He explores the differences between Atlanticist and post-Communist Europe and the role of the European Union in bridging them; the tensions between traditional and globalizing Europe; and the challenges of immigration, integration, and socioeconomic change to national identities.

William Safran, University of Colorado, Boulder