IntroductionThe article “Will Europe survive in the 21st century? A Meditation on the 50thAnniversary of the European Community,” written by Walter A. McDougall (2007), describes the evolution of the European Union (EU) through a two-part analysis. The first part, entitled “The other age born in 1957”, praises several significant historical events in economics, the role of religion; and the strengths and weaknesses that led to the formation of the EU. Part two, “The European Union in a Wider World,” offers a more in-depth look at Europe through a political lens focusing on events from the recent past and present. This part highlights the impacts of the events of September 11 on the World Trade Center, the questionable decisions subsequently made by the West, the challenges faced by an influx of immigration and increasing cultural diversity; and dissensions among indigenous Europeans. McDougall identifies three major threats that he believes will affect the future success of the EU: foreign policy deficiency, the Asian challenge and the Islamic challenge. How EU members respond to current problem areas and the actions taken by the European Commission will determine the level of success the EU will experience in the future. The historical prism Many historical actors have imagined a unified Europe. Some might think that it is the final destination after so much struggle and vast restructuring that this geographical area has had to undergo. A union that would enable cohesion, while allowing each country to retain its own unique characteristics, was the vision of a New World. McDougall's analysis argues that the formation of the European Union was an eventuality predicted by many. In 1944, in a final will ma...... middle of paper ......tonpost.com/opinions/ European-Union-Nations-see-an-uptick-in-Economic-Security-at-just -the-right-time/2014/04/12/1c167918-c0f0-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html Hodges, H. (August 6, 2007). Walter McDougall on Europe at 50 [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://gypsyscholarship.blogspot.com/2007/08/walter-mcdougall-on-europe-at-50-years.htmlMcDougall, W. (2007, July). Will “Europe” survive in the 21st century? A meditation on the 50th anniversary of the European community. Retrieved from http://www.fpri.org/articles/2007/07/will-europe-survive-21st-century-meditation-50th-anniversary-european-community Sotiris, P. (April 7, 2014). The Greek left and the European Union: on the need for an anti-euro and anti-EU position. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca/greeces-left-and-the-european-union-on-the-need-for-an-anti-euro-and-anti-eu-position/5376912