Bridging the Gap between European Citizens and European Institutions
This event was jointly organised with the Evens Foundation and the European Institute, LSE
Wednesday 11 March 2015, 1.45-8pm
Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building, LSE
Welcome Address
Joaquín Almunia, Ex-Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner responsible for competition
Disintegrating Europe: Nationalism, Regionalism, and Globalization
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Introduction: John Breuilly, Professor of Nationalism and Ethnicity, LSE
Speaker: Kalypso Nicolaïdis, Professor of International Relations and Director of the European Studies Centre, University of Oxford
At the level of both the member states and the EU as a whole there are social forces pulling in opposite directions (both local and global), putting tremendous pressure on existing political institutions. This session explored the cultural and political conditions prevailing in Europe today.
Political Economy of European Union
Introduction: Bob Hancké, Associate Professor of Political Economy, European Institute, LSE
Speaker: David Soskice, Professor of Political Science and Economics, LSE
Can Europe’s member states sustain the European Social Model? This session explored how economic innovations promoted by the EU (the Euro, Banking Union, debt sharing) as well as global ‘neoliberal’ market developments are changing the European political-economy.
European Politics and Government
Introduction: Mareike Kleine, Associate Professor of EU and International Politics, European Institute, LSE
Speaker: Jonathan Holslag, Professor of International Politics, The Free University of Brussels
European politics has been dominated by the vexed question of the democratic deficit. Should Europe move towards greater political union? Should the European parliament become a proper European government? Or should we look for innovations at the national, regional, or even city level?