ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how Raymond Aron's idea of Europe was shaped by his experience as a young French philosopher confronted by the threat of Nazi tyranny, then how he started to theorize the situation of Europe during the early years of the Cold War. It examines which "praxeology" – or conduct of policies and strategy – Aron recommended for Europe. In "Nations and Empires", a 1957 article, Aron questioned the very idea of European integration, going so far as to evoke a European fanaticism: A federal state requires more than passive consent. While Aron's thought was obviously based on the primacy of the political and of foreign policy, he did not neglect the economy, which was part of the balance or imbalance of power. The political myth of Europe was the only available option to counter the spread of the communist ideology.
