Bringing together political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and contemporary history, this book explores why and how European integration came to pass. It tells a fascinating story of ideals and realpolitik, political dreams and geographical realities, and planning and chaos. Mathieu Segers reveals that the roots of today's European Union lie deep in Europe's past and encompass more than war and peace, or diplomacy and economics. Based on original archival and primary source research, Segers provides an integrated history of the beginnings of European integration and the emergence of post-war Western Europe and today's European Union. The Origins of European Integration offers a broad perspective on the genealogy of post-war Western Europe, providing readers with a deeper understanding of contemporary European history and the history of transatlantic relations.

‘A fascinating, ambitious, provocative, and wide-ranging story. Mathieu Segers takes the reader beyond diplomatic history to explain the deeper cultural, economic, and societal influences upon the early days of postwar European integration.’

Anne Deighton - University of Oxford

‘The originality of this book lies in its reconstruction of the inner world of ideas and emotions of the key actors and thinkers, as well as in its invaluable insights into the psychological dimension of power and its portrait of the battle of the ‘blueprints of hope.’

Kenneth Dyson - Cardiff University

‘Mathieu Segers convincingly shows that integration was about the complex art of achieving what is possible in highly unpredictable circumstances. This insight remains relevant to this day, making this book a must read for everyone interested in the European project and its future.’

Catherine E. de Vries - Bocconi University

‘Mathieu Segers exhibits how the ‘European Republic of Planning’ was conceived and put into practice in the aftermath of WW2. This book is highly recommended for those who want to see and ponder contemporary Europe and the trans-Atlantic ‘kinship’ through the historical lens.’

Jan Zielonka - University of Oxford and Venice, Ca Foscari

‘With remarkable rigour and breadth of scholarship, Segers demonstrates how the Western European Communities that emerged in the 1950s were shaped by the competition of earlier plans written shortly before and during World War II.’

Stella Ghervas - University of California, Los Angeles