In talking about Europe, it is common to emphasise the democratic, constitutional and peaceful values that unite Europeans. However, according to Dag Nikolaus Hasse, it is not that easy to find an essence of Europe.

In What is European? he shows that many traditional ideas about Europe are culturally one-sided and historically and geographically distorted, and calls for the discourse on Europe to be de-romanticised and de-colonised. This would better reflect Europe's eventful history and dive...