In defense of decadent europe combines ideological debate with economic and social analysis its thorough examination of western freedom versus the eastern communism of the recent past extends well beyond parochial debates into a basic vision of western societies the book will be compelling for historians political scientists economists and . Raymond arons book in defense of decadent europe was published in 1977 it was the time of pervasive pessimism and doubts about the future of both democracy and europe european economies were knocked down by the 1973 energy crisis. In defense of decadent europe by raymond aron translated by stephen cox regnery gateway 297 pp 1495 this book which henry kissinger called one of the most important intellectual statements of our time is written by the outstanding western intellectual of the postwar period. In defense of decadent europe doi link for in defense of decadent europe in defense of decadent europe book in defense of decadent europe doi link for in defense of decadent europe in defense of decadent europe book edited by alan rosenthal edition 1st edition first published 1996 . Europes recent constitutional crisis and persistent economic difficulties have led many to call into question once again the vitality of the european project in 1976 during an earlier ep