In President Obama's effort to reshape America's image abroad, he made overtures to the Islamic world, pivoted towards China and vowed to "reset" relations with Russia. What he overlooked, argues William Drozdiak, was the imminent crisis in Europe. The UK stunned the world by leaving the EU; in Germany, there is growing alarm that refugees are putting the country's stability at risk; in Spain, a protracted economic crisis has spread disillusionment and damaged support for centrist political leaders; while Greece is a waystation for refugees fleeing Syria.

By speaking with world leaders from Brussels to Berlin, from Rome to Riga, Drozdiak describes the crises and attempted solutions. He asks where Europe can go from here and how the west can revitalise its key institutions like NATO and the EU. This is a timely, character- and narrative-driven book about this tumultuous phase of contemporary history.