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Conversations On Europe
In January 2012, the EUCE/ESC launched the speaker series, Conversations On Europe. Featuring some of the country's top experts on the European Union, this series links participants and presenters via videoconferencing across several sites. Audiences at all sites are able to ask questions of the experts. This event is open to the public.
Thank you to all those who participated in this year's 7 Conversations on Europe! We look forward to sharing our new conversation themes for the upcoming academic year with you.
Earlier Conversations:
April 18, 2013
“Sharing the Wealth: An EU-US Free Trade Agreement”
12-1:30PM, 4217 WWPH
In February President Obama announced the beginning of negotiations designed to produce a US-EU Free Trade Agreement. Mutual tariffs are already low and trade high; business and labor constituents seem supportive, and officials are eager to conclude this agreement “on one tank of gas,” i.e., quickly. But significant issues will be in play, including: opening markets for agriculture products, trade in services, and access to public contracts. Regulation and non-tariff barriers-including, for example, “cultural exceptions” favored by some European countries and American restrictions on European airlines may constitute substantial obstacles. More broadly, supporters of more global approaches to trade fear the impact of such an exclusive bilateral deal on the emerging and less developed markets. Our Conversation on Europe will cover these and other related issues, with participants from several venues and input from university and community people. This event is being held in collaboration with the American Council on Germany and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.
Ambassador (ret.) J.D. Bindenagel, Special Advisor to the President at DePaul University in Chicago
Martin Staniland, Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh
David Cleeton, Professor of Economics at Illinois State University
Zaki Laïdi is a Professor and the Director of Research at Sciences Po in Paris, France.
Ben Beachy is a Research Director with Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch
February 19, 2013
“NATO: A Hammer in Search of a Nail.”
12-1:30PM, 4217 WWPH
With its post-Cold War role in Europe behind it, an end to its role in Afghanistan planned for 2014, and new challenges in the Arab world, NATO is at yet another turning point in searching for a new role. This conversation will focus on what that role might be and how it relates to the security perspectives (broadly conceived) of the United States and its European allies.
Marina Skordeli, Director of the Jean Monnet Center at the University of Athens, Greece
Taylor Seybolt, Professor in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, The University of Pittsburgh
Ryan Hendrickson, Professor in the Department of Political Science, Eastern Illinois University
Gulnur Aybet, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Kent, United Kingdom
January 22, 2013
“The Next Member State: Croatia’s Path to the European Union.”
12-1:30PM, 4217 WWPH
The EUCE/ESC, in cooperation with the Center for Russian and East European History (REES) hosted the virtual roundtable on the subject of Croatia’s impending accession as the 28th member state of the European Union. REES Associate Director Andrew Konitzer moderated. Leaders from other EUCEs in conjunction with participants throughout the U.S. engaged in a discussion of the Europeanization process in the western Balkans, the impact on Croatia (and on the EU) of enlargement, and related topics.
Robert Hayden, REES Center Director and Professor of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh
Natasa Besirevic, Professor of Political Science at The University of Zagreb
Laura Hastings, Political Science lecturer and Interim Director of the Global Studies degree major at the University of Illinois
Dominik Tolksdorf, TAPIR Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
November 13, 2012
"German Identity? European Identity?"
- a conversation IN German
12:30-1:30pm, 4217 Posvar Hall
This event spoke to the concepts of German identity in German. It explored what it means to be German, and what it means to be a European. Participants discussed where these concepts overlap and where they diverge. All levels of German speakers participated.
Moderator, Dr. Patrick Altdorfer, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Political Science
Katrin Sieg, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., Department of German
Alexander Privitera, Senior Fellow and the Director of the Business and Economics Program at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS)
Kirsten Verclas, Senior Program Manager at AICGS
Stephanie Bennett, Executive Assistant/ Development Coordinator for AICGS
November 15, 2012
“Angela Merkel's Germany? Angela Merkel's Europe?”
12:00-1:30pm, 4217 Posvar Hall
Experts on German politics and society engaged in an interactive multi-site discussion focusing on the German Chancellor, her politics and personality. Topics covered included: How has she been represented in the press and popular culture throughout Europe? To what extent has Chancellor Merkel (her preferences, style, skills, background) shaped contemporary Europe? To what extent has she become a symbol of the current crises impacting Germany and other member states of the European Union?
Myra Marx Ferree, University of Wisconsin – Madison. Department of Sociology
Alexander Privitera, AICGS
Gregor Thum, University of Pittsburgh, Department of History
Konrad H. Jarausch, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lurcy Professor of European Civilization
October 10, 2012
“An End to Soft Power: The EU and the New Middle East”
12:00-1:30pm, 4217 Posvar Hall
Top experts on EU Foreign Policy and Middle East Politics connected live via interactive videoconferencing across several sites. Professor Ronald Linden, Director of the EUCE/ESC, moderated. Audience participation included students and faculty at The University of North Carolina, Chapel-Hill, and The University of Pittsburgh.
Eva-Maria Maggi, Helmut-Schmidt University
Tal Sadeh, Tel Aviv University
Urfan Khaliq, Cardiff Law School
Beverly Crawford, University of California, Berkeley
Mohammed Bamyeh, University of Pittsburgh
September 11, 2012
“Tiger in a Cage: Ireland and the New European Economy”
12-1:30pm, 4217 Posvar Hall
Stephen Kinsella, University of Limerick
James Donnelly, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vincent Brown, Print and broadcast journalist
Klaus Lares, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Niamh Hardiman, University College
April 17, 2012
"Falkland/Malvinas Anniversary Panel- A Transatlantic Dialogue"
12-1:30pm, 4217 WWPH
Top experts on the 1982 War between Argentina and Great Britain from both sides of the Atlantic joined specialists on the present-day relations between Latin America and the European Union via videoconferencing across several sites. Audience participation was welcomed.
Dr. Mark D. Szuchman, Professor of History, Florida International University
Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor of War Studies, King's College London
Dr. Carolyn Dudek, Associate Professor of Political Science, Hofstra University
Dr. Daniel K. Gibran, Professor of Political Science, Tennessee State University
February 21, 2012
12-1:30pm, 4217 WWPH
The EUCE/ESC hosted the second in its ongoing series of Conversations On Europe. This session was devoted to the topic "A New Germany in a New EU?" and addressed, among other issues, ‘Is it a 'new Eu'? Is Germany the new dominant force? Has Germany's relationship with the EU and other members fundamentally changed? Will we see further replication of the German economic approach at the EU level? What will be the impact of recent developments in Germany?’
Dr. Gary Marks, Burton Craige Professor, UNC Chapel Hill
Dr. Sabine Hake, Texas Chair of German Literature and Culture, UT Austin
Mr. Alexander Privitera, Journalist, Special US News Correspondent
Dr. Steven Sokol, President, World Affairs Council, Pittsburgh
January 17, 2012
"Is the Future of the Eurozone the Future of Europe?"
12-1:30pm, 211 David Lawrence Hall
Dr. Alberta Sbragia, Vice-Provost of Graduate Studies, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Christiane Lemke, Max-Weber Chair in German and European Politics, New York University and Professor of Political Science, Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany
Dr. Larry Neal, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Visiting Professor, London School of Economics
http://pittnews.com/newsstory/pitt-hosts-discussion-on-european-union-debt-crisis/
