1. Introduction

To the author, writing a sequel to his first book became necessary given the unexpected game-changers that have hit Europe since publication. The combined impact of the refugee crisis, the rise of terrorism and the increasingly visible Islamization of societies (or the ‘trilogy’), and the failure of the traditional political classes to address these and other issues has catalysed the development of ‘alternative politics’. The ‘trilogy’, Brexit, German hegemony and the Trump presidency are among the new challenges facing the continent. Understanding the truth is more necessary than ever in an age of ideologically biased information. With this book, Bongiovanni undertakes a fact-based journey in order to discover the hard truths about today’s Europe as it faces new challenges—some of which threaten its very soul.