Now that the entire concept of a united Europe has been enveloped in a rather wet, soggy cloak of pseudo-liberalism and Political Correctness, it is salutary to be reminded that the idea is not only an old one, but that it has been favoured by some very dubious political elements in the past. Also, in view of the fashionable and almost mindless demonisation of nationalism per se, it is healthy to be reminded that the nation-state has sometimes in the past proved to be a very necessary guard against various sinister forces and ideologies. John Laughland is neither anti-unity nor anti-European, but he does exhort us to think rather more clearly before we unwittingly commit ourselves to a new politico-economic order which may, ultimately, prove more hostile than friendly to liberal-democratic values.