The end of the Cold War provides an opening for fresh insights into the forces that have transformed Europe since 1914. In this volume, leading scholars from both sides of the Atlantic offer new perspectives on the causes and consequences of the dramatic, often violent, political and ideological confrontations that have shaped our century.

A number of themes are explored, particularly the rise and fall of the Soviet empire and the history and future prospects of European integration. A special section addresses the Balkan conflict and the collapse of the Yugoslav idea. The collection honors the late Milorad M. Drachkovitch, political scientist and historian, and Senior Fellow Emeritus at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.