Manchester University Press - Transatlantic traumas

A new addition to the Pocket Politics series, Transatlantic traumas takes a timely, compelling look at connections between external and internal threats that challenge the concept and coherence of the West and its leading institutions, NATO and the European Union. Frank and direct, in a style that's accessible for all readers, the book pulls no punches about the Western crisis of confidence.

After discussing the meaning of "the West" and examining Russian and Islamist terrorist threats, Transatlantic traumas assesses the main internal threats: the rise of radical right populist parties, Turkey's drift away from Western values, the Brexit shock, and the Trump Tsunami in the United States.Transatlantic traumas concludes by suggesting that the West can be reinvigorated if the political centers in Europe and the United States will reassert themselves in an approach the author calls "radical centrist populism."

Reviews

'The conceit of this aptly titled, provocative book is reflected in the question its subtitle poses. The book appears in Manchester University Press's new "Pocket Politics" series, which is designed to provide "short pithy summaries of complex topics on socio-political issues ... aimed at the interested general reader." The book is commendably distinctive in that Sloan (visiting scholar, political science, Middlebury College) eschews any pretense of academic objectivity in favor of a decidedly opinionated, advocatory stance. He argues that the present malaise (hence, the use of the word trauma in the title)-as revealed in Brexit, Trumpism, and the ascendancy of right populist parties in Europe-draws strength from threats from Russia and the Islamic State. As a curative he makes the case for a new "radical centrist populism" to stem the current tide and reassert Western supremacy. Sloan's twofold prescription calls for active deterrence of and resistance to external threats and a reinvigoration of liberal democracy. As relevant as today's headlines, this book is both an eminently readable primer on the current state of transatlantic relations and a call to action.'
D. Ettinger, George Washington University, Choice
Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers

Introduction: the foundations, history, interests, values underlying transatlantic relations
2. Evolving threats from ISIL and Russia
3. Factors creating malaise in the United States and Europe
4. Brexit: causes, status and implications
5. Trump presidency: philosophy/attitudes toward transatlantic relations, NATO, EU
6. Turkey: background, importance, Erdogan agenda
7. Illiberal tendencies around Europe
8. Can the Western system be reinvigorated?
9. Prospects