Surveying the ideals and visions held by the founders of the European Community, this timely book also assesses the concepts and theories surrounding the European Union today. This volume is the first to explore the theoretical cleavages among Monnet, Spinelli, the federalists, and the functionalists together with the views of the Socialist, Labour, Social Democratic, Conservative, and Christian Democratic parties on the challenges of a United States of Europe. The contributors combine their theoretical analyses with extensive use of archival material, party programs, and speeches to provide an authoritative and comprehensive study of value to all scholars interested in European integration.