Educational Media Reviews Online

The maturation of the European Union (EU) has brought about dramatic rifts and challenges to its composite nations. The EU is undergoing a transformation driven by forces from within (cultural and national identities), from without (its rapid influx of immigrants), and from its top governing body, the European Parliament. These often conflicting pressures are creating widespread problems. This series offers an in-depth analysis of the social and political issues facing the European Union.

This series has two overarching themes. First is the need to harmonize its once autonomous countries. Though the EU makes no call for homogeneity, the lack of synchronization among its member nations’ identities, disparate legal systems, and economies is a chronic problem. Second, the pressures from and undeniable need for immigration is a constant source of tension, politically and socially.

The series begins by examining the cultural makeup of the EU and the development of “Islamophobia” or Anti-Muslim sentiment. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, security and border control in European nations has escalated. Crossroads does an excellent job of thoroughly examining the immigration crisis in the EU, citing poverty in Africa as a primary engine. Industrial nations like Germany are in severe need of semiskilled immigrant workers, while countries like Spain and Finland are initiating barriers to immigration. Countries in need of immigrants are being asked to supply resources to halt the inflow of the very labor they so desperately need. With birth rates in the EU on a steady decline and with a rapidly aging population, the EU must reconcile its need for economic growth with that of social stability. Crossroads also includes a brief examination of poverty in Africa and the EU’s consequent appeal to other nations to intercede in Africa’s political conflicts.

The EU has strived for common policies and even a common constitution. This proposed Constitution was submitted in 2005, but met stumbling blocks in countries with needs for referenda approval. This extraordinary series studies the recent movements of the European Parliament and how it has been confronted by fractious issues, such as individual countries’ support of the Iraqi invasion, and regularization of illegal migrants. The audience gains the public’s perceptions of Parliament, both cynical and idealistic, through a host of interviews on the street.

Continuing its focus on immigration, Crossroads examines the unsavory practice of human trafficking. In heartbreaking dramatizations and interview with victims, the viewer is submerged into the tragedy and its precipitous problems, including the rise of organized crime. EU has responded with initiatives such as FRONTEX, the agency in charge of border control. Here the audience sees a deft assessment of the issues facing border security, as the EU’s drug detection, immigration control, anti-smuggling, and anti-terrorism efforts are often dissonant.

Crossroads offers a profound examination of the political and social pressures affecting the EU. It is rigorous in its approach and gives the viewer deep insights into the EU’s challenges. It is, however, lacking conclusions. Though its explorations of the issues are extensive, the producers of this series make no conclusions or forecasts. This may not, in fact, be a weakness as this absence preserves the objectivity of the review. It is also worth noting that each of the six volumes of this series may be viewed independently. The producers of Crossroads have done a brilliant job in crafting a unified group of interrelated yet independently functional volumes. This fine work come highly recommended for those with a keen interest in the European Union.