A Throne in Brussels: Britain, the Saxe-Coburgs and the Belgianisation of Europe - Softcover

Belien, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1845400658 ISBN 13: 9781845400651

Publisher: Imprint Academic, 2006

Synopsis

Offers a history of the monarchy of Belgium, a country artificially created in 1817. This book argues that the pan-European super-state resembles a 'Greater-Belgium' rather than a 'Greater-Switzerland'.

About this title

Review:

"Consistently shocking... Mr. Belien tells the story of this slimy dynasty with great gusto... lays out this bill of indictment very powerfully."

Author: John O'Sullivan Source: American Spectator

"If you plan to read only one book on foreign affairs in the next year, you should read Paul Belien's A Throne in Brussels."

Author: Thomas Fleming Source: Chronicles

"Paul Belien's thesis is very important... This is an excellent example of how history should be written."

Author: Merrie Cave Source: Salisbury Review

"An important, relevant, well-researched and an extremely readable book which should be paid attention to by the citizens of EU member states, and those wishing to understand how such a monstrosity came into being."

Source: Free Republic

"A fascinating account of the lives of the six Belgian kings... this thoroughly researched book explains how Belgian political attitudes have infected those of the European Union."

Author: Philip Claeys, MEP Source: Right Now!

"This extremely well-written, penetrating historical analysis warns that the EU is heading the way of Belgium – towards a corrupt, corporatist, coercive construct devoid of national consciousness or cohesion. The urgent lesson for Britain? Shun the latest constitution like a poisoned Belgian chocolate!"

Author: Lord (Ralph) Harris

"An unusual blend of history, analysis and warning... Belien is to be congratulated not only on his courage and erudition, but also on his writing skills."

Author: Gerald Frost Source: Eurofacts

"It must never be forgotten that the Belgian royal family are Coburgs, with all the larger-than-life qualities and failings that Coburgs possess. This is a fascinating book after which I cannot but see the Belgian royal family in a completely new light."

Author: Hugo Vickers

"Paul Belien writes with ease and erudition, and mounts an unanswerable case not only against the Belgian state, but also against the European institutions that have been built on it and infected with its incurable disease. The warning contained in this book is simple: hold fast to your national identity, you nations of Europe, or else dissolve, like Belgium, in a sea of corruption and despair."

Author: Roger Scruton

"The Belgianisation of Europe is a real threat."

Author: Lord (William) Rees-Mogg

Synopsis:

In 1817 the great powers installed Leopold of Saxe-Coburg as king of Belgium - a new, artificial state inhabited by Catholic Dutch in the North, and French- speaking Walloons in the South. Belgium is often compared to multilingual Switzerland, but whereas Switzerland grew organically, Belgium is an artificial state, in which two peoples were forced to live together and where no national consciousness developed. It could fall apart in the next ten years. Paul Belien argues that the pan-European super-state currently in the making will resemble a 'Greater-Belgium' rather than a 'Greater-Switzerland', since Europe will also be an artificial construct. Belgium has infected EU political attitudes and acts as a model for the EU - a failed attempt to 'construct a nation' out of different peoples with separate languages and traditions. To learn what the EU as a single state might be like, take up this highly readable mix of history, analysis and warning.

About this edition

• Publisher: Imprint Academic
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1845400658
• ISBN 13: 9781845400651
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400