The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy by T.R. Reid

The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy Reviews

• 
  Nathan Albright

  A friend of mine with questionable taste in books [1] had borrowed this book from another mutual friend and loaned it on to me, and while at first I found much to appreciate about this book, as the book progressed I was more and more irritated at the author and about his point of view, and by the end of the book I was convinced that the author and those of like mind on the part of the left who want to copy Europe's model of life ought to be declared ineligible to be a part of the American political community. If they want to live in Europe, let them, but they should not be allowed to pollute and corrupt our own republic by importing the socialist and bureaucratic model of Europe. The author probably assumed, given his frequent flattering of the erudition of his reading audience, that he was writing to people of like mind, which made him perhaps more honest and upfront than he would have been had he realized that not everyone reading the book was friendly to his political worldview or to his praise for Europe's influence on American law and practice.
  
  The nearly 300 pages of material in this book is organized into a thematically organized set of chapters and a slightly entertaining if somewhat arbitrary appendix. The book opens with a discussion of Americans being particularly ignorant about the revolutionary changes going on in Europe. The author then talks about the widening division between Europe and the United States during the early 2000s, as well as the pacifist political philosophy of Europe in the aftermath of World War II. The author has a chapter talking about the promise of the Euro as a threat to the dollar, and then spends an entire chapter talking about GE's failed attempts to acquire Honeywell in the face of European concerns about bundling and a lack of competition. After this there is a chapter about European investments in American brands, an entirely too flattering discussion of Europe's social model, an account of Europe's lack of military capability, a glowing introduction to Europe's "Generation E," and a closing chapter encouraging readers to wake to what is going on in Europe. After this comes two appendices, the first one giving the states of Europe and the second one showing the insanely complicated governing structure of the European Union.
  
  Again, I am probably not the ideal reader for this book, but although I am fairly hostile to the author's political worldview, I am at least a writer whose familiarity with Europe and with more recent events than this book's conclusion allows me to evaluate the author's claims. The author does not come off well as a prophet. To be sure, Europe's unification is momentous, but it has hardly been without problems, including the massive debt crisis in many nations. Likewise, although the author presents the UK as having a bit of an identity crisis, he appears not to have had in mind the Brexit and its complications for devolution within the EU. Overall, the author is too sanguine about the EU and about its greatness, to the point where the author comes off as being particularly unpatriotic as an American, jeopardizing his own credibility as someone who can speak with authority to Americans who are more critical of foreign influences than he is. Overall, this book is disappointing and politically unacceptable, and provides yet more evidence of the illegitimacy of much of left-wing political thought in the United States and its desire to make us just another corrupt European socialist country.
  
  [1] See, for example:
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
• 
  Syed Fathi

  A very insightful read on post-war Europe and how a continent choose a path of peace and progress by forging a union. EU is far from perfect, with Britain holding a referendum next month for their Brexit, but at least EU have shown to the world that nationalism breed hatred and war. By forging unity, accept differences and try to find ways working together, EU have done a job which is unthinkable before. Other nation must look closely to their model and try to overcome their national boundaries, creating more than just a trading bloc. But rather a free world, where people can travel, trade, study, work in harmonious way at the same time preserving their local identities.
• 
  Franziska

  I like this one. It was a captivating, quick read that was also very informative. I think what I liked about this book versus another one I have read regarding the differences between the US and European Union etc. is that this book was a little less nice on Europe. That way, I felt I wasn't getting too proud at how cool Europe is, and I think it'd be a lot easier to stomach for an American who wants to read/learn more about Europe. I think it presented the pro's and con's and overall tendencies and attitudes pretty accurately.
  
  The only thing I have to laugh at now is that the Author wrote about Europeans going through (according to his tone irrational) health scares, like cell phone usage influencing the brain. Well, funny enough...I just read a news article that's talking about how research was done in that area 14 years ago, and how they want to continue that research because it seems that there is a health risk. I don't think Europeans go through health scares. I think they just really like to be healthy, and are very wary of new stuff that's not well-researched. :)
• 
  Natalie

  Anyone who has an affinity for Europe should read this one. Reid explains how Europe is giving the United States a run for its money, to say the least. The book is as much history as it is informational tidbits on the culture and mentality of Europe as a whole. I've heard that this book has sparked a bit of controversy in the U.S., but having lived and worked in Europe, I found this to be a very fair assessment of how Europeans are and why they like what they do.
• 
  J.R.

  T.R. Reid wrote this in 2004, right as the EU was really starting to take off. He, among many at the time, saw the EU as the rising star in international relations and thought it would rise to the status of co-superpower next to the United States. AMERICANS BEWARE! Twenty years of hindsight have proven many of these rose colored predictions to be wrong, but did it require twenty years of hindsight to know that wouldn't happen? I'd argue no.
  
  The formation of the EU is a historically fascinating and important event, yet it certainly was never going to truly be a political competitor to the US. The author puts up a half-hearted defense of common American tropes in Europe of US citizens being arrogant, fat, and uncultured. However, Europeans ought to realize that the only reason Europe has been able to cooperate and create an institution like the EU is due to American hegemony.
  
  Europe has struggled with the classic security dilemma since the fall of the Roman empire. Any nation that builds up its military defensive capability to a point of competence also serves as an offensive threat to its neighbors, which in turn incentives more military build up of that neighbor. And around and around you go. This has been at the heart of the countless European wars fought over the last 1,000 years. It wasn't until the end of WW2 and the US assuming the responsibility of European defense (western Europe anyway) that this dilemma was finally eliminated and Europeans could compete in more productive ways (economic and diplomatic). Not to mention the ability of these nations to invest resources in what would have been defense spending into social welfare programs the Europeans are so proud of. This is also in conjunction with the Marshall Plan, where US taxpayers spent billions for tax dollars to rebuild Europe after the wars.
  
  However, with the end of the security dilemma comes a price. No European nation has the military capacity to truly defend itself or enforce its will. Regardless of how distasteful it feels in the mouth to some, all civilized interactions are predicated on the presumption of violence. No one goes to jail because they feel an obligation to their community to serve their punishment. No one pays levies against them by the courts because of patriotism. Civilized instituional rule has to be enforced by force. Therefore, without a truly independent military capacity, Europe will also be beholden to the US in matters the US thinks important enough to flex is coercive arm.
  
  Also, the lack of a truly unified European culture makes the idea of European identity abstract at best. Diversity of thought is a great strength to a nation, but diversity of values, language, and norms is divisive and incentives ostracization, not unity. We see this at play as the EU slowly started consolidating its power over member states in the 2010s. Many nations threatened to, and the UK actually did, leave the EU. Fundamental differences of culture will always be a barrier to a truly unified European nation state (or transnational institution like the EU). I think the only way to reverse that trend would be for some form of a modern European Monroe doctrine at work, which is all but never going to happen in contemporary Europe.
  
  Anyway, it's always interesting to read older books that make grand predictions. Especially when the predictions are so wrong. You learn a lot more about the authors own biases, or the biases of popular opinion at the time, and it helps identify those types of arguments in your time.
• 
  Carrie

  Washington Post writer, tells the story of the rise of the European Union and its mission to act as a counterweight to American global supremacy.
  
  Anyone who has traveled through Europe since 2002, will see some significant changes. European integration has brought power. The elimination of trade barriers, the adoption of a common regulatory system, and the advent of the Euro (the world's strongest currency for much of it's life,) have made the European Union a financial and commercial superpower.
  
  The construction of the New Europe, with more than two dozen nations ceding much of their sovereign authority to a common central government (headquartered roughly 3 miles from where I live in Brussels, Belgium) has created a new species of united state, that has a new stature. They are not to be ignored.
  
  The EU has more people, wealth and trade than the USA... and more influence in almost every international body. Although is is "not fun to watch from the western side of the Atlantic" a key element to this new European culture has been a powerful mood of anti-Americanism. AS the US budget deficits continue to threaten the balance of the global economy, the EU has emerged... determined to challenge American claims to global supremacy and 'gain equal standing with the USA on the the word stage.'
  
  Anyone concerned with the future of global trade, economics and political power needs to be aware and prepared... for the EU now has a significant stake in the future of American positioning.
  
  
  
  Author: T.R. Reid
  Publisher: Penguin Group
  Copyright: 2004
  Genre: Current Events/History
  Pages: 244
  Date Read- 5/1/08 to 6/3/08
  
  
  NOTES
  ____________
  p. 157
  The Europeans challenge economic comparisons based on gross domestic product, the standard measure of a nation's wealth. When American citizens or governments spend money on deadlock bolts, barred windows, car alarms, police and prisons, all the expenditure creates employment sand adds to the GDP total. But does it make the US a more desirable place to live than Europe, where there s less need for home security or prison guards? Those extra 10 weeks of pad leave that a French worker enjoys have a negative effect on GDP statistics. But are Americans better off because they work ten more weeks a year?
  
  p. 189
  When examining the question of global power do not just examine military power, but consider political power, economic power, cultural power, moral power and particularly the persuasive power of a driving idea, such as the idea that nations should find methods other than warfare to resolve their differences.
  
  The non fighting superpower plans to win its way, not on the battlefield but by corralling more votes than the Americans in the United Nations, the Word Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and other international gatherings.
  
  In debate, the European Union acts as a single unit, but when it comes time to vote, the member nations guard their right to cast separate votes, country by country. When the EU is united-and t usually is, in international organizations- it was twenty-five votes to cast in opposition to America's one vote.
  
  p. 219
  While the US is the dominant military player on the global stage, every Western European government devotes a considerably higher share of its budget to foreign aid than the United States does.
  
  p. 229
  In the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein, George Bush failed to give Europeans the kind of attention and respect they have come to expect. Europe, in turn, used its worldwide political clout to defeat the American position at the United Nations. Teh result was painful: the United States took more than 90 percent of the human losses of the Iraq coalition, paid about 95 percent of the costs, and suffered grievously on the battleground of global opinion.
  
  
  p. 239
  As America's 'twin deficits'- that is, the government's budget deficit, reaching nearly 5% of GDP, and the nation's balance-of-trade deficit, which was nearly as large as the governments shortfall- rises larger and larger, the EU has decidedly taken the opposite direction. The nations of Europe have maintained a fairly steady balance-of-trade surplus- that is, they sold more goods and services overseas than they bought- and their 'Stability & Growth Pact' have held government deficits to a fairly low level.
  
  For investors around the world, it has become a fairly easy decision to stock up on the currency of a nation in surplus, and unload American money. In March 2002, when the last of the traditional European currencies was withdrawn from circulation, 1 euro was worth 86 American cents. Two years later, a euro was valued at $1.30 - a 50% gain against the dollar- and likely to continually grow stronger as the American deficits persist.
  
  If traders, consumers, and finance ministries around the world come to the conclusion that the rising euro is a more reliable currency than the falling dollar, it could spell the end of the dollar's long reign as the world's preferred reserve currency. That could cost America a lot of dollars.
  
  
  p. 241
  Every month the United States spends about $50 billion more on foreign goods than it earls n foreign sales. That monthly $50 billion is the balance-of-trade deficit. Most nations could not run a deficit like that for very long; their currency would crash, their loans would be called, and the nation would face bankruptcy.
  
  But the USA can sustain the steady outflow of money becasue the rest of the world has been willing to send back the dollars we use to buy foreign goods. This return comes in the form of investment- foreign investors buying American stocks or, more commonly, lending us money by buyng corporate or government bonds.
  
  When the US treasury spends more than it receives in taxes- early in the 21t century, the US government was spending close to half a trillion dollars more each year than it took in- it makes the difference up by floating Treasury bonds. Every year, a major share of the Treasury bonds is purchased by foreign investors, and this, in effect, brings home many of the dollars that went overseas in trade. Those foreign investors putting their funds into Treasury bonds are lending Americans the money we use to buy more imports.
  
  For years the US has gotten away with this recurring cycle of spending and borrowing largely because investors around the world have had no better place to put their money.
  
  The threat facing the United States is that the euro, a strong currency backed up by some of the world's strongest economies, is beginning to look like a reliable alternative to the dollar.... Indeed, a survey of the central banks in early 2005 showed that two-thirds of the world's sixty-five richest nations were planning to shift investment out of dollars and into euros. If this is trend continues-and most economists say it will- it will be much harder for America to continue its import-and-borrow pattern of consumption.
  
  To continue to attract foreign loans, the Treasury of the US will have to offer a higher interest rate on bonds. And at a time when America's twin deficits are skyrocketing, in short, America could be forced to pay more to borrow the money required to finance those deficits. To put it simply:
  
  The success of the euro could bring America's financial hose of cards tumbling down. The dollar could lose much more value on the international markets, sending stock market indexes steeply downward; the US government could be forced to raise taxes to make up for the bonds it can no longer sell around the world.
  
  To add insult to injury, historically low US interest rates are weakening the dollar... while high interest rates in Europe are one of the key reasons for the explosive strength of the euro on the global exchange markets.
  
  
  
• 
  Megan

  It begins grotesquely and frequently has very out of line references, such as to "sugar daddies". This book spends most of its time calling Europe an America hater, and the loves to detail all the grotesque things they've seen. They also love to make sure readers know that Americans are detestable. Every reason that America has to be laughed at is on display here.
  Do I have an inherent problem with that? No. Did it get distracting from the point of the book? Absolutely. The real content about Europe was often buried beneath anecdotes while the author clearly wanted to maintain how confusing the EU system can be. No effort was made to make the material easier to absorb.
  This was a truly terrible book and an even worse academic selection. The only reason I gave it two stars rather than one is because it does actually contain interesting stories to demonstrate relevant content at times.
  Pass on this one. Choose something better (and more current) to learn about the differences and similarities that Europe has to America and to learn about the European system as a whole.
• 
  AB Freeman

  As of 2022, this book (published in 2004) is certainly out-of-date; however, the historical information of the founding of the European Union (and its basic bureaucratic structure) still stands. Many of the predictions of superpower status that Reid puts forward have failed to materialise, which contributes to a clear disconnection to present realities. Some books just don't hold up well as history unfolds.
  
  3 stars. Other books might provide a similar telling of the original promise of the EU, without a focus upon the thesis that it might maintain a more powerful position than it actually does. Reid posits powerfully wishful thinking that reads as a hope still remaining for the continent, although all present historical likelihoods paint such hopefulness as incredibly naive.
• 
  Joel Toppen

  Though dated, I found this to be a readable and insightful look into the European Union. It would be interesting to see an updated edition. I couldn’t help but wonder how European views on immigration have shifted over the past 16 years.
  
  The author does paint a very pretty picture of the European welfare state. He portrays it almost as a utopia. I would like to see a closer, more in-depth probe before embracing these ideals.
  
  Regardless of whether I agree with the author’s politics or viewpoints, I did find this to be a very well-written book on a topic that doesn’t get very much attention.
• 
  Matteo Perri

  A book highly stereotypical about both americans and europeans. But a quite interesting book for americans whom don't know nothing about Europe and who want to have a first sight to european social welfare
• 
  Phil Eaton

  A short, light overview of the European Union.
• 
  Jennavier

  Interesting but seriously dated.
• 
  Mark

  Combining Reid's book with Mark Schapiro's
  Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products... makes a nice 1-2 combo for getting a feel for how the European Union is reshaping and rebalancing the world.
  
  Ahh, what a beautiful American I am -- I read two books and instantly start spouting claims about how simple things really are...
  
  But really, things are quite simple.
  
  After bearing the brunt of the two world wars where human brutality was neatly matched with a new plateau of human ingenuity (thanks, oil!), the European continent was more than ready to forge international alliances that would make future conflicts less likely to reach the point of spilling blood.
  
  What started out as an agreement between the French and the Germans in 1950 to power a revived German steel industry with French coal has now blossomed into a 27 country economic powerhouse. The driving force behind the original European Coal and Steel Community was to eliminate the risk of unilateral military production on the part of either the French or Germans: "The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible." Huh.
  
  This "invention of peace" met with the aid and decades-long encouragement of the United States (initially in the form of the Marshall Plan) as the U.S. pushed Europe to become more unified. Hey, we had a lot of products to sell and it was a lot easier if all those European cats were being herded in the same direction in terms of tariffs, trade agreements, and so on. Now that the unification has produced the world's most powerful and wealthy consumer bloc, the U.S. government and industry is a bit miffed at the European response to our consistent support. From the economist Irwin M. Stelzer:
  
  Having worked for decades to encourage a united Europe, America appears to face an emerging continental superstate defiantly determined to cut it down to size. Certainly, to anyone following Europe's media, or listening to the speeches of its leaders, there can be no mistaking the seriousness of that determination.
  
  It is this consternation and cultural understanding gap the fills the bulk of Reid's work. An engaging writer, Reid guides the reader along the rim of the cultural chasm that is developing between the U.S. and Europe.
  
  The introduction to the book is entitled "Sleeping Through the Revolution" and the heading is most certainly aimed at Americans rather than Europeans. As it stands right now, the bulk of the international agenda -- be it trade, manufacturing, environmental, etc. -- is being driven by European concerns while America is left sputtering and fuming outside the conference doors. Sometimes literally.
  
  While I tend to agree with the European bent on many issues, I would like to see America step up and regain our global prominence. I don't think we can accomplish that by becoming "more American" and trying to do it with sheer muscle (and fire) power. Instead, it looks like if the U.S. wants to regain the global leader mantle, it will have to be done through out-Europeaning the Europeans. (Note: I'm trademarking that phrase.) This has many implications but the biggest is that we will have to significantly decrease our military spending and put that money toward making Americans more secure in their lives at home rather than creating an ever-growing body of enemies abroad.
  
  Overall, a great read. The writing reminded me a lot of Michael Pollan's relaxed and conversational tone that somehow packs in an incredible amount of history and keen analysis. And when you are done reading this one, you can join the ranks of the know-it-all Americans. USA! USA! USA!
  
• 
  Eric

  This book had good facts; facts about how the Euro currency was rolled out, facts about GE's failed attempt to buy Honeywell, facts about the European social model. However, I interpret all his facts very differently than the author.
  
  The reason I give the book only two stars is because I strongly disagree with Reid's premise: A dozen plus countries ceding much of their soverign authority to a common central government has produced and will continue to produce a "great" society that not only will endure but will rival the USA.
  
  I disagree with this entirely because the system is not built upon the principles of liberty and individual rights. Throughout many of his chapters, particularly the Social Model chapter, in essence, Reid subconciously is making the case that collectivism is a superior model to individualism and liberty. "The welfare state, enforced by law, is a defining feature of europe. Social rights cannot depend on the voluntary goodwill of others." WHAT? Here's a tip on the welfare state...The only difference between a welfare state and totalitarianism is TIME. Welfare = Dependency. Dependency = Power. When people are dependent, they are relieved of responsibility which in turn relieves them of the necessity to use their mind. When people dont rely on their own minds to guide their behavior, government gets bigger and more powerful. Free markets die and liberty is lost along with your rights over time.
  
  I think the reason it appears that the USA may be losing ground to europe is because the USA has not stuck to its constitution for much of the last century (creation of the Fed Reserve, Medicare, Social Security, undeclared wars etc.), not because Europe is a superior economic, social and political system. America is dragging itself down as it encrouches on its own liberty and its giving the appearance that other models are superior.
  
  Book was good for the facts but the premise is flawed. Liberty and protection of individual rights is the only model that not only works, its the only model that is moral.
• 
  Kevin

  My (socialist) friend sent me a copy of this book, thinking that I could benefit from seeing the world outside of US-centric neoliberal economic views ... :-)
  
  The book has an interesting perspective that focuses on the growing political and economic clout that The EU has due to its market size. It sites examples of the EU blocking large global mergers of US companies, the increasing value of the Euro currency and the trend of rich countries diversifying their treasury holdings away from the US dollar and to the Euro.
  
  The author's views on the increasing political clout of the EU, however, seem overblown and rather idealized. Most of the statements about how the EU will gain in political clout are based on the notion that the political views and policies of the individual countries will eventually converge into one, cohesive view. I think this will not happen any time soon, given the differences in world view between France, Germany and The UK and Poland, The Czech Republic and Hungary. These countries are coming from very different places historically and will not converge idealogically over nite.. if ever.
• 
  Donitello

  There’s a reason why T.R. Reid’s book, published three years ago, continues to enjoy a very nice sales ranking on amazon. With great humor and intelligence, Reid describes: 1) many of the developments leading up to the formation of the EU; 2) some of its early achievements (read especially Chapters 3 and 4, “The Almighty Undollar” and “Welch’s Waterloo”); and 3) the future implications of a unified Europe both for the US and the world. Much of the work comes from events Reid has witnessed firsthand as a Washington Post correspondent and NPR commentator, the rest from some pretty comprehensive research. Rolf Dobelli, PhD and Chairman of getAbstract.com, “[recommends] this book to managers of U.S. companies that have European offices and to anyone interested in contemporary international relations.” Granted, that may not be the zippy, exuberant rave you’d expect from an American reviewer, but if this book is correct we’d all better start getting used to a little European understatement! Highly recommended for everyone to read—the sooner the better.
• 
  E

  I read this book after already having moved to Europe from the U.S. over a year before due to the many (appealing) ways Reid shows life in the E.U. is different to that in the U.S. Don't believe anything you hear to the contrary: Europeans DO live with better health care, more socialism, less jingoism, less militarism, less religion, and more sexual emancipation, AND THEY LIKE IT THAT WAY.
  
  I then passed it on to a European friend who said he felt unusually proud to be European throughout the course of the book. Part of Europe's ability to keep its head when the U.S. can't can be traced to the fact that it tends to constantly be its own toughest critic, and overt nationalism or patriotism is looked upon with suspicion in a post-WWII era. Persistent self-examination and critiquing do tend to lead to progress.
• 
  Bookmarks Magazine

  Anyone who even glances at international headlines already knows there's a powerful new presence emerging in what used to be known as "the Old World." Reid provides a strong introduction to the EU's unprecedented exercise in international cooperation. While some reviewers take issue with what they view as overstatement, oversimplification, or selective inclusion of facts, most, if not all, agree with Reid's underlying message: Americans need to pay far more attention to the activity across the Atlantic. We've been duly warned.

  This is an excerpt from a review published in
  Bookmarks magazine.
• 
  X

  Explicitly pro-EU tract that paints an exaggeratedly rosy picture of life in the EU versus life in the United States. I do wish Reid included the more sordid and unpleasant details about the genesis, support and style of the EU, but he seemed deeply averse to criticizing any part of the New Europe, aka the United States of Europe.
  
  Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this engaging and fun book, though I disagree with his subtitle, because the news runs counter to his theory that we are witnessing the ascendancy of a rival superpower.
• 
  Mike

  This book provides a nice light overview of the European Union, from the events that prompted its creation (most notably two world wars) to the success of the Euro. I'd recommend this to anybody who wants to understand how influential the EU has become. The author comes off as a bit of a Euro-fanboy at times, but overall is balanced in his assessment of the Europeans.
  
  The most interesting thing I learned was that English is the de facto language across the continent, as well as the official language of the EU.
• 
  Mariana

  This is a great book about the transformations taking place in Europe right now. There is a new generation, generation E (citizens of Europe rather than citizens of a specific country) - they can work and live anywhere in Europe. They are united by the dream of making Europe a second superpower.
  Europe is trying to be everything that the US is not. They make the rules because they have a huge market, more than half of the global commerce. And they also have a bigger vote in the international organizations (27 votes from 27 countries versus one US).
• 
  Cheryl

  An interesting look at the way Europe has moved toward a more unified stance economically, legally, politically, etc., and the effect that unification has on the larger global landscape. The book was written in the early 2000s shortly after the introduction of the Euro and it would be interesting to do an updated look back 10+ years later and see what effects the economic downturns have had on the general unification and what the future might hold.
• 
  Jennifer

  I feel like this book should be required reading in high school or college. We (U.S. Citizens) are often so wrapped up in our own doings that we are completely unaware of alternative (perhaps even better) ways of handling important national and global matters. I think the U.S.A. is going to have a major wake up call in the near future, and this book illustrates why.