Description:
The Owned Continent sets out to answer why Europe surrendered to Donald Trump's extortion in 2025 while others like India, Brazil and China didn't. It argues that the root cause is America's cultural domination over Europe.
Brief description: Dave Keating is an American-European journalist in Brussels who has covered EU politics for 20 years. He is the Brussels correspondent for the international cable news station France 24 and the author of Gulf Stream Blues on Substack. He is known for his clear, accessible analysis of EU affairs. Previously he was a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and he was the editor of EuropeanVoice.com, a side publication of The Economist. He was ranked the top EU social media influencer in 2023. Dave draws upon his on-the-ground reporting experience in London, Brussels, Paris, Prague, Berlin, New York, Chicago and Washington to provide context for European political developments.Originally from the New York City area, Dave holds a bachelors degree in European history from New York University and a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He is a triple American-Italian-Belgian citizen.
Review Quotes:
"Europe has long punched below its weight on the global stage and this book offers an invaluable exploration of one central reason: the European Union's enduring dependence on the United States. In a masterful reframing of the EU's humiliation by the Trump administration, Keating situates recent events within a larger historical narrative - how Europe, in the aftermath of the Second World War, effectively became an American protectorate. Keating is also unsparing in his critique of today's EU leadership, faulting them for perpetuating this reliance and leaving Europeans in the role of supplicants and tributaries to US power."
-James Kanter, host of EU Scream and former New York Times EU correspondent
"The Owned Continent is holding up a merciless mirror to us, Europeans. It should be compulsory reading for all political leaders in Europe."
-Sophie in 't Veld, former Dutch MEP
"Dave Keating's must-read book is a comprehensive, insightful and accessible deep-dive into the historical roots of Europe's long over-reliance on the United States through to the present day. His descriptive prose and lively anecdotes chronicle a continent that lost its way and sense of self. But his conclusions are, ultimately, constructive and prescriptive - outlining how the EU can band together and reclaim a leadership role on the global stage."
-Christopher Alessi, Editor-in-Chief, The Parliament Magazine