Europe

The future of Europe and the role it will play in the 21st centuryare among the most important political questions of our time. Theoptimism of a decade ago has now faded but the stakes are higherthan ever. The way these questions are answered will have enormousimplications not only for all Europeans but also for the citizensof Europe's closest and oldest ally - the USA. In this new book, one of Europe's leading intellectualsexamines the political alternatives facing Europe today andoutlines a course of action for the future. Habermas advocates apolicy of gradual integration of Europe in which key decisionsabout Europe's future are put in the hands of its peoples,and a 'bipolar commonality' of the West in which a moreunified Europe is able to work closely with the United States tobuild a more stable and equitable international order. This book includes Habermas's portraits of three long-timephilosophical companions, Richard Rorty, Jacques Derrida and RonaldDworkin. It also includes several important new texts by Habermason the impact of the media on the public sphere, on the enduringimportance religion in "post-secular" societies, and onthe design of a democratic constitutional order for the emergentworld society.