Pizza and Politics Schedule 2011-2012

Pizza and Politics Schedule 2011-2012

November 21, 2011

12noon 4217 WWPH

"What's Next for Italy? A Discussion with Alberta Sbragia." 

Alberta Sbragia, former EUCE/ESC Director and current Vice-Provost for Graduate Studies will host a round table discussion about the current economic and political crisis in Italy.  Please join us for pizza and a lively discussion about the implications for the Euro and the future of the European Union.  

December 7, 2011

12noon 4625 WWPH (Political Science)

"Historical Perspectives on French Socialism, German Social Democracy, and Crisis within the European Communities: From the Empty Chair Crisis to Financial Collapse, 1965-2011"

Brian Shaev, PhD candidate, Department of History

As the European Union confronts one of the deepest crises of its history, the frustration of a number of member states at the apparent hegemony of the “Franco-German couple" has become vocal and public. With elections approaching in 2012 in France and 2013 in Germany, it is worth considering what a transfer of power from the current governing parties to the major opposition parties, the Parti Socialiste (PS) and the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD), might harbor for the future of the European integration project. In this presentation, I examine how these parties handled past crises, both when in government and in opposition. I explore policy continuities and evolution over time through an examination of these parties’ roles in the Empty Chair Crisis, President Mitterand’s program for socialist transformation, German reunification, the proposal for a European constitution, and the current financial and debt crisis.

December 13, 2011

12noon 4217 WWPH

"Using the EU Archive at Pitt to Research Beyond Eurafrica"

Philippe Lionnet, Graduate Student, Center of European and International Studies, University of Basel

Mr. Lionnet’s thesis explores sovereignty, hegemony, and human rights in EU-ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States) relations.  His project seeks to get beyond the ideology of Eurafrica to better understand development policies in the 1950s and 1960s.  For his research, Mr. Lionnet has come to the University of Pittsburgh to make use of the European Union Delegation Collection housed at the University Library.  The Collection is a virtually complete assemblage of official European Community documents published since the early 1950s.  In his work on development, Mr. Lionnet has had occasion to work in European archives in addition to this one.  He has generously agreed to speak with Pitt grad students about his experiences in the University’s Depository Collection, how it compares to others, what he has found, and how it all informs his larger research project.  Please join us then for Pizza & Politics…& Archives.

For more information about Pizza and Politics, or if you are interested in presenting your research please contact Allyson Delnore.