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]

EU Futures

EU Futures - Episode 63 - Ines Garcia de la Puente

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]

EU Futures - Episode 62 - Graham Wilson

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]

EU Futures - Episode 61 - Erik Goldstein

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.

EU Futures - Episode 60 - Christian Feld

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]

EU Futures - Episode 59 - William Keylor

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]

EU Futures - Episode 58 - Joaquín Almunia

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]

EU Futures - Episode 57 - Cornel Ban

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]

EU Futures - Episode 56 - Betsy Carter

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]

EU Futures - Episode 55 - Wolfgang Streeck

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]

EU Futures - Episode 54 - Alisa Sopova

In this episode, Robert Socha focused on the growing income gap in Europe and the United States, and the disconnection between elites and average citizens. Talking about his childhood in communist Poland, Socha expressed his love for the democratic, borderless European project and his pride in his home country advancing since the fall of the Iron Curtain. He admitted, "the EU is not a perfect place – it is often too bureaucratic, lacks vision, too distant to ordinary people,” but ended the conversation by explaining his belief that European identity is based upon a shared past, but that the continent's complicated history has taught Europeans the necessity of communication. [Date of interview: April 3, 2017]

EU Futures - Episode 53 - Robert Socha

In this episode, Isabel Schayani explained how she transformed a Facebook page into a platform for communicating directly with migrants, describing how her WDR project offers news, education, and entertainment for refugees entering Germany. The discussion moved toward a conversation about the situation facing asylum-seekers in Europe, as Schayani condemned the treatment of refugees in Eastern Europe and how she believes journalists are in the unique position to teach Europeans to avoid xenophobic assumptions and help migrants orient themselves once settled in the EU. She ended by emphasizing the global dimension of migration in the 21st century and the need for Europeans to provide adequate information about legal channels of entry to refugees trapped on the periphery of the EU. [Date of interview: April 3, 2017]

EU Futures - Episode 52 - Isabel Schayani

In this episode, Dr. Jacqueline Cramer discusses her belief that EU Member States can pursue common goals at 'different speeds', allowing countries to act as frontrunners in fields such as sustainability and circular economic practices. Cramer emphasized the need for Brussels to reconnect with and engage citizens in order to foster a community of Europeans within an increasingly globalized world. She emphasized the threat of populism, arguing that “democracy is the key of European culture - it should be nourished all the time in order to show what the enormous merits are of our democracy." Cramer ended by commenting on the strength of diversity and the need for Europeans to find a balance between national identity and common EU values of democracy and socioeconomic stability. [Date of interview: March 6, 2017]

EU Futures - Episode 51 - Jacqueline Cramer

In this episode, architects Bernard Dubois and Pol Esteve talk about the turning point Europe faces today, specifically highlighting the imbalances between the supranational institutions of the EU and the national-based governments. Given their backgrounds growing up in Catalonia and Belgium, the two men agreed that there are many schisms in Europe - at the EU, national, and regional levels - but that integration can occur as a result of finding commonalities beyond geographical borders. They emphasized the radical modernization of Europe and role of younger generations in participating in the European project. They concluded that artists in Europe should promote a better understanding of EU institutions, promote transparency, and defending human rights and diversity. [Date of interview: March 5, 2017] Photo Bernard Dubois: Valextra

EU Futures - Episode 50 - Bernard Dubois + Pol Esteve

In this episode, Olya Yordanyan talks to Alberto Alemanno about European democracy and how citizens might engage politically to regain some power and influence over their own futures. They discuss Alemanno's new book, Lobbying for Change: Find Your Voice to Create a Better Society, as well as the recent white paper on the future of Europe, and the threat to democracy presented by the populist parties. [Date of interview: March 5, 2017]

EU Futures - Episode 49 - Alberto Alemanno

The mission of the Center for the Study of Europe at Boston University is to promote understanding of Europe through its cultural heritage; its political, economic, and religious histories; its art, literature, music, and philosophy; as well as through its recent emergence as a new kind of international form through the European Union.

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EU Futures

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