EU Futures

In this episode, Ines Garcia de la Puente talks about the massive societal changes the EU has undergone in the past 25 years. She emphasizes the importance of literature in influencing the development of children, describing how reading teaches people to be open minded to different experiences and cultures. Garcia de la Puente discusses the role of artists in connecting Europeans across geographical and historic boundaries, arguing that multilingualism should be at the core of children's education in order to promote transcultural awareness and communication between countries. She ends by highlighting the need for adequate investment into education systems and praises teachers for stimulating interest in academic and artistic pursuits among European youths. [Date of interview: May 5, 2017]

In this episode, Prof. Graham Wilson talks to Olya Yordanyan about the resilience of the European Union in the face of Brexit and other challenges, given the wave of antipathy towards EU institutions, not only in countries where it might be expected such as Greece, but also in northern Europe. He describes how attitudes toward Europe have changed over the years, the locus of European identity, and the impact of Brexit, among other things. [Date of interview: May 4, 2017]

In this episode, Erik Goldstein discusses the diverse history of European countries and the need to support the organic convergence of the various forms and ideas of democracy across the EU member states into a single coherent project. He talks about the security threats facing the EU and the need for a reorganization of military commitments and a stronger Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Goldstein explains how the EU was designed for only six states and the structural reforms necessary to promote a more collaborative Europe at the national, regional, and supranational levels. [Date of interview: May 4, 2017]

In this episode, German journalist Christian Feld and current Nieman Fellow at Harvard University highlights the role of journalists in facilitating a dialogue that exposes threats to democracy in an era of “disinformation” and “fake news.” He argues that that Europeans would have more trust in the EU if the project was perceived as helping citizens, who are not interested in democracy as an abstract concept. Feld talks about the need for journalists to educate both themselves and their audiences about the digital world (including AI, big data, machine learning, and social media platforms) in order to diminish the power of echo chambers and to stimulate conversations in which groups can listen to one another and collectively create solutions, despite their differences in opinion.

In this episode, William Keylor talks to Olya Yordanyan about the emerging future in Europe. He focusses on the role of France, both from a historical and a contemporary perspective, and offers an analysis of the long-term implications of the upcoming French presidential election. He explains how economic strains and a concomitant identity crisis=are the contributing to the rise of populist movements in Europe, and warns of the dangers represented by political parties claiming to be the “voice of the people.” Keylor also discusses the threat of Russia and the future of transatlantic security and the EU's common security and defense policy (CSDP). He ends on a positive note, arguing that we must remain optimistic and celebrate the massive achievements of the European project since the end of WW II. [Date of interview: April 20, 2017]

In this episode, Spanish politician Joaquín Almunia speaks about the centrality of integration to the European project of “peace, democratic values, human rights, and freedoms” and the need for Member States to come together if they are going to face the challenges of the 21st Century. He explains that while Brexit poses difficulties, the EU will continue the integration process at both the national and supranational levels. Almunia speaks about the failure of European politicians to explain the complexity of the problems and the types of solutions necessary to overcome the present crises to their citizens, and how as a result they are to blame for the rise of populist candidates, who offer criticism rather than viable alternatives. He ends by describing his belief that the EU should not be compared to the United States, as European countries have a diversity of languages, experiences, and history, making integration a much more daunting endeavor. [Date of interview: April 13, 2017]

In this episode, Cornel Ban speaks about the long-term implications of Brexit and the need for Europe to return to something resembling post-war paradigm in which employment and measures to reduce social inequalities formed the core of European economic policy. He then weighs the costs and benefits of a two-speed Europe, while condemning the blame-shifting among EU Member States onto debtor states and countries located at the periphery of Europe, as well as the emergence of new divisions in Europe in place of the former East-West divide. Ban ends by sharing his hope that Europeans remain optimistic and rediscover Europe's traditional strengths of community, environmental sustainability, and progressive urbanism. His vision for Europe is a truly inspiring one, making this podcast well worth a listen. [Date of interview: April 12, 2017]

In this episode, Betsy Carter describes her belief that current changes in the direction of the European project present an opportunity to not only increase the legitimacy of the EU but also to offer Member States an opportunity to implement policies that complement their own institutions. She then explains how the EU is based upon a “vision of visionaries” rather than the needs and concerns of European citizens, which have gone unheard, and she condemned far right politicians for moving Europe toward a past that never truly existed. “The future is open,” is Carter's closing remark, as she articulates her hope for a Europe in which diversity is celebrated and economic regulations are rolled back to allow comparative advantages for individual Member States. [Date of interview: April 10, 2017]

IIn this episode, Olya Yordanyan talks to German sociologist Wolfgang Streeck about his bleak vision of the emerging future in Europe and the reasons for his pessimism. He explains how the “one size fits all” approach in the EU and EMU has failed, adding, “groups hoping for the restoration of national autonomy are a democratic reaction of despair with international regime that neglects broad range of interests present in these peoples.” Questioning the optimal scale of governance in a globalized economy, Streeck ends by emphasizing the importance of restructuring the current monetary regime as well as the need for innovative solutions in order to stabilize the world economy in the short run. [Date of interview: April 4, 2017]

In this episode, Alisa Sopova spoke about the way war is reported and documented in the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR versus the rest of Ukraine. She explained her frustration with the Ukrainian media calling the Eastern territories "Mordor” or “black holes”, and talked about her personal decision to avoid the increasingly prevalent tactics of an information war by adhering to classic, objective journalism. Sopova expressed her belief that reconciliation could occur if people on both sides of the conflict were able to communicate and realize the similarities between their traumatic experiences. Speaking about the future, the journalist described her desire for Russia to recognize Ukraine as a sovereign state and for the EU to see Ukraine as an example of what happens when populist politicians successfully rewrite the public narrative and promote the polarization of populations. [Date of interview: April 3, 2017]