Brussels, the Gentle Monster

or the Disenfranchisement of Europe

Hans Magnus Enzensberger author Martin Chalmers translator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Seagull Books London Ltd

Published:28th Oct '11

Should be back in stock very soon

Brussels, the Gentle Monster cover

The inner workings of the European Union are as much a mystery to those living within its confines as they are to those of us who reside elsewhere. The Brussels bureaucracy that sets many of the EU's policies feels remote to its citizens, yet the influence of its decisions can extend worldwide. In this timely and insightful essay, Hans Magnus Enzensberger attempts to make sense of the EU's present political and economic roles and examine the EU's origins and inherent contradictions. In Enzensberger's view, Europe is involved in a project without precedent - the first non-violent form of post-democratic governance, which is trying to abolish the diversity of Europe and impose a regime that is not accountable to its citizens. Its often bizarre and arbitrary rules amount to a soft but relentless guardianship, dictating how half a billion people should live their lives regardless of their own political opinions and traditions. Enzensberger here offers a strategy for approaching this modern monster - at once gentle and giant, friend and foe.

"For 50 years, time and again Enzensberger has posed the right questions to German society.... No one should ever believe Enzensberger is on his side. Whenever someone makes a clear distinction between Good and Evil, Enzensberger will jump out of cover and shout: It's not that simple." (Florian Illies, Die Zeit)"

ISBN: 9780857420237

Dimensions: 21mm x 15mm x 1mm

Weight: 227g

81 pages