Counter-Revolution: Liberal Europe in Retreat

Derived from similar political explorations throughout the centuries, Zielonka's (European Politics, Oxford Univ.; Is the EU Doomed??) epistolary examination of politics in Europe analyzes the recent pushback against liberalism as evidenced by Brexit, among other notable events. Zielonka calls this resistance "counter-revolutionary," framing it as a reaction to the consistent rise of liberalism going back to the 19th century. Using this history to illuminate places where liberalism has recently been undermined in the face of conservatives in the European political scene, Zielonka is at once disillusioned with his political cohorts and optimistic about the potential for the liberal movement in the future. He incites liberals not to "settle for the status quo, but try to experiment" with new ways to achieve progress and stability. At times, his insightful critique of modern liberalism is so ponderous and complex it seems that only the most sophisticated and politically informed readers would get much out of it. This book would be ideal for a group study, as many of the questions posed are philosophical in nature and deeply layered.