EU Futures

German journalist Wolfgang Bauer discusses his new book, Crossing the Sea: With Syrians on the Exodus to Europe and the emerging future in Europe with our outreach coordinator Olya Yordanyan. (Date of interview: September 22, 2016)

In this episode, Barbara Boschetti, Associate Professor of Administrative Law at the Catholic University of Milan (Italy), discusses the state of democracy in the EU, distinguishing procedural democracy from ballot box democracy. She shares her optimism regarding the future of the EU, even after Brexit, which she argues may in fact strengthen federalist processes. (Date of interview: September 8, 2016)

In this episode, Toria Rainy talks to Igor Lukes, Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University about the "civilizing role" of the European Union on the European continent, the politics of hate behind some critiques of the EU's so-called "democratic deficit," and the lingering threat to Europe's future posed by Russia. (Date of interview: April 22, 2016)

In this interview Toria Rainy talks to Joe Wippl, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University's Pardee School of Global Studies about his long career with the CIA in Europe, challenges facing the EU, notably, uneven economic growth and uneven burden sharing during the current migration crisis, and the importance of transatlantic relationship to future peace and security efforts globally. (Date of interview: March 1, 2016)

This episode is a conversation with Vlad Perju, a Romanian Professor of Law at Boston College Law School, who identifies and addresses the two conflicting projects of European integration: one based upon fusion and unity, the other centered on cooperation and coordination of Member States. He talks about the challenge of European versus national law, and highlights some of the discontinuities in the goals of European integration, including the major issue of the continued existence of nation states without nationalism. Perju discusses how legal documents encapsulate the conflicting political project in the EU, and how the paradigm of the constitutionalization in Europe has two lenses (doctrinal and normative) which European lawyers must use in the reformation of European law in order to promote the active involvement of citizens in the European integration experiment. (Date of interview: May 25, 2016)

This episode is a conversation with Marija Bartl, a Dutch Lecturer in Law at the University of Amsterdam, about the polarization of Member States in regards to economic policy, and the urgent need for solidarity within the European Union in the restructuring and formation of institutions to address the monetary and social crises facing Europe today. She points out the lack of true democracy in Europe, and emphasizes the necessary establishment of a public sphere where citizens can Europeanize issues, coordinate appropriate responses, and reconsider commitments to each other to join in an open discourse about the Common Market. Bartl also discusses the mobilization of Europeans, across political and national boundaries, against the proposed TTIP, and how public demonstrations represent the power citizens have when committed to the principles of solidarity in actively influencing policy making decisions at the European level. (Date of interview: May 17, 2016)

This episode is a conversation with Sara Poli, an Italian Professor of European and International Law at the University of Pisa, about the uncertainty within the European Union today. She discusses the question of Member States retaining sovereign powers while simultaneously addressing the need for a common response to major security challenges caused by the migration crisis. Poli speaks on the volatility in the European periphery of the Middle East and Northern African, and the need for the EU to emphasize solidarity with one another and involve themselves in conflict resolution efforts in the Neighborhood. (Date of interview: May 17, 2016)

This episode is a conversation with Loukas Tsoukalis, Professor of European integration at the University of Athens, about the simultaneous challenges facing the EU, specifically discussing the problems caused by the fiscal crisis. He explains the dysfunctionality of the monetary union, emphasizing the impacts of its ineffectual and illegitimate practices on ordinary citizens and the political repercussions we can see today. Tsoukalis also discusses the question of Europe’s future given its tendency toward soft power underneath the protection of the United States ‘umbrella’ and the need to address the causes of growing populist movements across Europe. (Date of interview: May 3, 2016)

This episode is a conversation with Guila-Clara Kessous, a French artist and human rights activist, about the future of European identity. She talks about the need within the EU to promote a common European culture and deeper citizen participation in defining “Europeanness”. Kessous discusses the importance of fostering a feeling of belonging for Europeans, emphasizing how citizens need to feel proud of being a part of the emerging European identity in addition to their national historical roots. (Date of interview: April 28, 2016)

This episode is a conversation with Maria Cristina Nisco, a Research Fellow in English language and linguistics at the University of Naples L’Orientale, about the impacts of the current migration crisis. She discusses the geographical and political inequalities between EU Member States located at the periphery and emphasizes the clashes between national and European interests. Nisco speaks about the gap between European texts and European case law, commenting on the trend of Member States avoiding the burden of migrants rather than working to integrate and protect asylum seekers. (Date of interview: April 26, 2016)