Europe seems to be plunging into crises of demographic and economic displacements, heightened nationalism, and general unrest. Wealthy countries that have enjoyed stellar global reputations for their fortitude and livability have had to adjust their policies and practices to keep up with immigration and economic transitions. What is life like on the ground in countries previously known for high standards of living and enviable social welfare benefits, amid, for example, worsening job prospects, the uncertainties of Brexit, and the abrupt resignation of the Belgian prime minister in the capital of the European Union? Is Europe falling apart, as news reports and journalists’ analyses seem to suggest, and if so, what does that mean for Europeans? In this Hot Spot series, we suggest that political unrest in the “Old Continent” portends complications and contradictions in the habits of everyday living in countries that, since the end of the Cold War and rise of the EU, have seemed to be among the most stable in the world. How are citizens and residents of these countries making room not only for new immigrants and refugees, but also for new struggles in their own lives? Current politics challenge not only a global imaginary of European life as “wealthy” and “progressive,” but also the weft and weave of everyday life, from working conditions and access to healthcare and food, to aspirations for the future.