A short polemical appeal by Dennis MacShane (Minister for Europe 2005-2010) for policy-makers to re-engage with the Western Balkans before it is too late. Drawing on his experience as a Minister for the Balkans between 2001-2010, MacShane has written a vivid and forceful account, showing that the Western Balkans are a symbol of Europe's weakness to transform one of its key regions and the choice is now stark: either the Balkans become Europeanised or Europe becomes Balkanised.

Dennis MacShane was Member of Parliament for Rotherham between 1994 and 2012. Between 2001-2005 he was Balkans Minister and later, from 2002 until 2005, Minister for Europe. He was UK delegate to the Council of Europe between 2005 and 2010. Dr MacShane is a regular contributor to UK, European and North American magazines and newspapers and the author of Heath (published in Haus's Prime Ministers series) and a biography of François Mitterrand.