The European Nations in Paradise

  Once upon a time, the European Nations went to war, but instead of the battlefield, they walked into a paradise. After entering paradise, some Nations felt a little bit tired from their previous war and thought, “We wish we could be more peaceful”. Then, these Nations saw a beautiful and peaceful community. Within it everything seemed wonderful. So, they entered the community and found peace, economic and political co-operation. After a… Read More

The Rome Manifesto: An Initiative to Re-launch the Project of European Integration

Sixty years after the Treaty of Rome, the European Union (EU) and its Member States are facing major challenges, from Brexit to the threat of Grexit, from the migration crisis to the changing reality transatlantic relations. Much uncertainty however seems to reign on how the EU should move forward. On the one hand the White Paper of the European Commission lacks decisiveness in clearly saying where the EU should be heading. On… Read More

How to deal with Trumpism – A practical guide from the Mediterranean Boot

History has never been a magistra vitae in the way Cicero might have wished. If, however, there is anyone on the American side of the Atlantic ocean who only remotely thinks that the Roman philosopher had something of a point, then the time has come to learn some lessons from a tiny country called Italy, which for centuries has had the privilege to play the trailblazer – from the Roman Empire through… Read More

4th International Workshop – Lecce

(Re)Thinking Europe from the South: Intersections between Politics, Law, Philosophy and History The 4th International Workshop of RUB Europadialog will take place in Lecce from 26th to 29th May 2017. RUB Europadialog is affiliated with Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Germany, and promoted by Institut für Deutschlandforschung (RUB). We receive generous funding from Stiftung Mercator in Essen. The workshop will be part of a series with previous events in Oviedo (2015), Athens (2016) and… Read More

The Myth of a European Memory: A Voyage to Poland and Back

More than a quarter of a century after the fall of the iron curtain, western and eastern Europe are still divided, especially when it comes to collective interpretations of the European past. Whereas the centrality of the Holocaust for European memory politics has been widely accepted in the west, this paradigm is challenged by many voices within eastern European states. Revisiting Poland – literally and through the lenses of literature and film… Read More

The consequences of Brexit for TTIP

More than three months after the Brexit referendum, which saw 51.9 % of British voters express themselves in favor of leaving the European Union, the time has come to get things cleared and collect some reasonable thoughts. In particular, in respect to the UK’s share of EU exports and imports 12.9 % and 15.2 % respectively (Eurostat Statistics Explained, 2015), with many already questioning the future of EU trade agreements, with great concern regarding negotiations… Read More

Europe in a New Key: A Dispatch from Athens

Europe’s post-war period is over. But how should we approach the history of our age? In this essay, Camilo Erlichman reflects on the possible themes for a history of the present by looking at the continent from the vantage point of its interpretative fringes. It has now been more than a decade since the late Tony Judt published his monumental history of post-war Europe that has become one of the standard accounts of the period. In his… Read More

Germany, don’t worry!

Last Sunday, Italians were asked to the ballots in what are likely to have been the most crucial local elections in recent times, with major cities like Milan, Turin, and Rome electing their representatives. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi´s candidate Giuseppe Sala, a former successful CEO at EXPO 2015, won with a slight majority in Milan against his centre-right rival. More significantly, however, the Five Star Movement won in Turin with Chiara Appendino… Read More

2nd International Workshop – Athens

The end of the European civil society utopia? Economic, cultural and political surveys in Athens Our first international workshop on Europe and its crisis in Oviedo (Spain) in 2015 is now followed up by an economic, cultural and political meeting in the capital of Greece. We invite citizens, students and representatives from the civil society, local initiatives, start-ups and other entrepreneurs to join our discussion on contemporary challenges of being European. What… Read More

Defending the European Project

Europe is witnessing one of the most difficult phases of its history.  Euroscepticism and nationalism have fused into an explosive mixture that has not only increased intolerance and racism against immigrants, but has also drawn into question the entire European project. The growing lack of human and social solidarity is a reminder of the need to reconstruct the European project in its most authentic and original form. «Any society that is not… Read More

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