Creating European Citizens

Exploring a key aspect of European integration, this clear and thoughtful book considers the remarkable experiment with common rights and citizenship in the EU. Explaining this innovation-why states cede their sovereignty and eradicate or redefine the boundaries of the political community by including 'foreigners'-Willem Maas analyzes the development of European citizenship within the larger context of the evolution of rights. More than simply a free trade market, the goal of building a community among peoples- creating European citizens-has informed European integration since its origins. The author argues that its success or failure will not only determine the future of Europe but provide lessons for political integration elsewhere.