What explains the remarkable evolution of the European Union since its emergence in the early 1990s? How has the EU coped with a series of severe shocks, ranging from the euro crisis to Brexit to Russia's invasion of Ukraine? How is it dealing with the rise of illiberal democracy in some of its member states? And why is it more contested, while at the same time more relevant, than ever before?

Addressing these questions, this concise text—authoritative, engaging, and well written—traces the development of the EU from its inception to the present. It is ideal for use in the early weeks of courses on European or EU politics, as well as for the EU portion of courses on contemporary European history.

Desmond Dinan is professor of public policy at George Mason University.