The Strange Death of Europe by {author}: summary and why it matters

What it argues

Murray, a British journalist, holds that Europe is in the process of committing suicide through two things: mass migration, especially from Muslim countries, at a rate and under conditions that he thinks the continent cannot assimilate, and a loss of faith in its own civilization.

The first part reports on the migration crisis, with visits to Lampedusa and the countries along the routes, and examines the policies of European governments, such as Germany's 2015 decision to admit large numbers of asylum seekers. The second part explores the cultural and intellectual background: post-war guilt, the rejection of religion and the failure to find something in its place, and what he calls tiredness and the lack of a story to tell.

The book argues that governments have not told the truth about the effects of migration and that people who criticize them are labeled as bigots.

Why it matters

It was a best-seller in Britain and elsewhere and set the terms of discussion for those worried about immigration and identity. Readers who disagree will find it a clear statement of positions to answer.

About the author

Douglas Murray (born 1979) is a British author and commentator, associate editor of The Spectator, who wrote Neoconservatism: Why We Need It and The Madness of Crowds. He founded the Centre for Social Cohesion. The Strange Death of Europe was a Sunday Times best-seller in 2017, and it has been published in many countries.

Who should read it

Readers following debates about immigration, identity and the West.