This episode is a conversation with Henrik Selin, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies Associate Professor of International Relations, about the perception of the EU. Selin comments on how critical interpretations of the EU neglect the many positive things accomplished under the experimental European framework, including advancements in environmental policy through successful regional cooperation. Selin talks about the democratic deficiencies in the EU, discussing the removal of individuals from the increasingly centralized Brussels bureaucracies, and the importance of maintaining an optimistic view toward the developments and adaptations of the EU in responding to the needs and concerns of European citizens. (Date of interview: March 22, 2016)