From Treaty-Based Darkness to the Light of a Federal Europe

This book examines the European Union’s current crisis as a manifestation of systemic decline rather than a temporary political challenge. Drawing on political philosophy, federalism, systems theory, history, and law, it argues that the EU has reached the limits of its treaty-based structure, marked by democratic deficits, institutional inefficiencies, and growing public distrust. Using Polybius’ theory of political cycles and insights from modern systems theory, the book contends that periods of institutional decay create opportunities for renewal. It proposes a constitutional-democratic federal Europe as the next evolutionary stage of European political development, offering a more effective, legitimate, and sustainable framework for governance. Through the themes of learning, understanding, and applying, the book contributes to contemporary debates on Europe’s future and the pursuit of lasting peace, security, and prosperity.