DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE “OLD” AND THE “NEW” EUROPE: TOWARDS THE WHOLENESS OF A CIVILIZATION

Europe is often described as a continent moving at two speeds: a prosperous, established “Old Europe” and a dynamic, emerging “New Europe.” But this division is more than economic or political—it reflects a deeper civilizational fracture, one rooted in different historical experiences, different wounds, and different expectations from the European project itself.Dialogue Between the "Old" and the "New" Europe examines this duality not as a geopolitical confrontation, but as a conversation between two Europes that have never fully met each other. The book explores how the continent’s western and eastern halves developed parallel narratives, parallel identities, and parallel memories—and why these differences continue to shape the future of the European Union.Andrei Maslaev argues that Europe’s real challenge today is not institutional stagnation or economic disparity, but the absence of a shared civilizational vision. Without a common cultural axis—one that honors both the experience of the Old Europe and the resilience of the New Europe—the continent risks drifting into fragmentation, mistrust, and permanent asymmetry.Through a lucid and accessible analysis, the book explores:– the historical roots of Europe’s two-speed condition– why Eastern and Western Europe perceive democracy and sovereignty differently– how memory, trauma, and dignity shape political expectations– why cultural integration must precede political integration– what it would mean for Europe to rediscover a unifying narrativeAt its core, this is a book about healing the divide—about imagining a Europe in which Old and New are not categories of competition, but voices of a shared civilization.A timely reflection for readers who believe that Europe’s future depends on more than institutions—it depends on understanding one another’s stories. Read more