The project on Europe and the World began in 2015 with the arrival of The Honorable Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, former president of the European Commission. On February 1, 2015, Mr. Barroso was appointed to the Frederick H. Schultz Class of 1951 Visiting Professor of International Economic Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a policy fellow of LISD. His work with LISD on the European Union was focused primarily on its relations with Russia, Africa, the United States and China. Mr. Barroso still serves as a non-resident senior fellow with LISD.
Barroso and Wolfgang Danspeckgruber co-taught three courses during his tenure at Princeton. The first in the Fall of 2015, Topics in International Relations: The European Union and International Relations, explored the complexities, challenges, and achievements of the EU in international relations over the past decades. Instructors and students discussed relations between EU and non-member states, great powers, international organizations, and lessons from leading the EU in a globalized interdependent system. Also discussed was how it copes with ethnic rivalries, terrorism, financial and nuclear crises, power interests, energy markets, revolutions, conflict on its borders, environmental and health challenges. This same theme was taught again in the Spring of 2016.
The second course in the Spring of 2015, Leadership and International Relations, built on the extensive personal experience of the instructors, exploring the intricacies and importance of (personal) leadership in global affairs. It assumed that the quality of leadership, in addition to charisma and personality exerts considerable influence – positive or negative, constructive or destructive, individual or as a leader of a group. After a theoretical and psychological as well as a historical introduction, the seminar analyzed select areas in which leadership matters. It also examined the post-war and independence negotiations in Angola, Mozambique, East Timor, the case of the Iran nuclear negotiations, and the crises in and around Europe. Specific focus was offered to humanitarian and environmental issues, the dimensions of gender and culture, and e-/social media challenges. A concluding workshop was held to develop intergenerational key elements of successful leadership in today’s challenging world.
Building upon the student research and intellectual output from those two seminars, the project on Europe and the World emerged as a multi-tier endeavor founded within the Liechtenstein Institute with the intent of developing a deeper understanding of how an ever-changing Europe is understood by its neighbors and the world. The Europe in the World project addresses how one should assess whether Europe is strong or weak, which institutional reforms could promote greater effectiveness, and how can Europe augment its effective contribution and prepare for a more stable and sustainable world in a time of apparently fundamental challenges?
The project provides core theoretical, historical, and policy literatures on Europe, its foreign relations, as well as an opportunity to engage in sophisticated, realistic, and differentiated analysis and discussion. Special case studies will address Brexit, Russia, Iran, China, Korea, migration, and values. The Europe in the World Project is dedicated to answering questions such as: what is Europe today? what does “European” mean? how should one assess whether Europe is strong or weak? which and what Europe one is talking about? which institutional reforms could promote greater effectiveness? and how can Europe augment its effective contribution and prepare for a more stable and sustainable world in a time of apparently fundamental challenges?
The conventional wisdom views Europe as relatively weak and ineffective at pursuing its own interests and ideals internationally. Critics point to recent and ongoing crises inside Europe, like BrExit, emerging nationalism and populism, economic issues, generational change, great power politics, potential re-nuclearization, as well as Europe’s challenges with a reasserting Russia, an increasingly forceful and influential China, and a United States/transatlantic relationship with President Trump. Many lament, and criticize, the lack of efficiency, response, and effective reach of the EU—while at the same time, Europe today possesses considerable diplomatic, economic, scientific technological, and soft-power resources. It is active diplomatically – even with military operations – economically, and remains attractive because of its legal framework, human rights, culture, and environmental standards.
The Europe and the World program is dedicated to identifying the nuance in these relationships and finding insight given the intensity of new challenges and crises. Central to this approach is the role of guests and collaborators on specific programs and events within the Europe and the World Project; including, HE Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Jose Manuel Dorao Barroso, frmr. President of the EU Commission; Joschka Fischer, frmr. German Foreign Minister; and other representatives.
Emerging Foreign and Security Dimensions (EFSD) Fellowship and Seminars:
The Europe and the World Project developed its core programming in September of 2018 when the LISD launched two fellowships and seminar series:
- Emerging Foreign and Security Dimensions I
- Emerging Foreign and Security Dimensions II
The first fellowship, Emerging Foreign and Security Dimensions I, launched from September to December 2019 and was divided into three interrelated modules. The series discussed emerging security challenges from strategic developments, inter-state and intra-state perspectives, self-determination, climate and environmental issues, to migration and leadership challenges in the region spanning from Vancouver to Vladivostok. It offered an overview about some of the key institutions in security and foreign relations in the Northern Hemisphere: the EU, the OSCE, and ASEAN. The seminar addressed the institutional set up, looked at the origins and institutionalization, examined security challenges through the prism of the organizations; offered specific insights on negotiations and interactions and pursued a comparative perspective with an emphasis of involving diplomatic and political practitioners from within and outside the organization.
The second fellowship, Emerging Foreign and Security Dimensions II, runs from February to June of 2019 and takes a more specific look at the European continent specifically. It explores the complexities, challenges, and achievements of the EU in international relations over the past decades. Discusses relations between EU and non-member states, great powers, international organizations, and lessons from leading this organization in a globalized interdependent system. The fellowship addresses the way in which Europe copes with ethnic rivalries, terrorism, financial and nuclear crises, power interests, energy market, revolutions, conflict on its borders, environmental and health challenges. Fellows will tackle questions such as: How has the EU reacted to the global crises? How have global crisis affect the mechanisms of European foreign and security response systems? How will new challenges shape the future of European integration?
