European Socialists Across Borders: Transnational Cooperation and Alternative Visions of Europe After 1945

An assessment of the influence of socialist networks on European social and political reconstruction, as well as European peacebuilding across continental borders.

From postwar debates on institutionalized cooperation in Western Europe to the current dynamics of the European Union in the post-Cold War era, European Socialists Across Borders investigates the impact of socialist networks on European construction and integration, and the role of European socialism in international (dis)orders. It assesses how socialist networks were influenced by socialist groups outside Europe, and how they navigated domestic and global politics. Collectively, the chapters explore four main areas: the relationship between European ideals of cooperation, daily routine, and domestic politics; the shifting definitions of political elites in Europe—including African, Caribbean, and Asian influence on the transformation of European socialist thought, policies, and practices; the extent to which European socialists attempted to propose a post-colonial, post-imperial agenda for Europe; and how European institutions were used by socialists and their contacts.

Reflecting on the successes and failures of the transnational processes of socialization, the role of cultural bridge-builders, and the reasons behind missed opportunities for peace and equality, this book examines how socialist politicians and activists conceived of Europe’s role in worldmaking in its transition out of conflict and empire. Through this reflection, the book contributes to a better understanding of cooperation across borders.

Mélanie Torrent is a professor of British and Commonwealth history at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne in Amiens. She has been a senior research fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies since 2011 and a member of the editorial board of Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs since 2010. Andrew J. Williams is professor emeritus at the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews. He has been the editor of several journals, including the International History Review from 2010 to 2016, and has been a regularly invited professor at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Lille and Sciences Po Paris.

ISBN: 9781915249708
Format: Hardback
Pages: 260
Publisher: University of London Press
Published: February 20, 2025