Europe in a Turbulent World

Europe faces unprecedented threats. As the outside world appears increasingly unstable and insecure, European leaders grapple with the question of how to meet these challenges. Abroad, they have to deal with the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the rise of China as a global superpower and the continuing atrocities in Ukraine and Gaza. Domestically, Europe is grappling with the rise of the far and authoritarian right, the challenge of big tech and AI, the climate crisis and a struggling economy.

Daunting though these challenges may seem, this lecture series seeks to make sense of how Europe can respond to this turbulence. In five lectures, experts will give their perspective on ongoing developments inside and outside Europe, how they affect our lives and how we might address them. Covering defence, economics, big tech, climate and people, this series aims to provide some solid ground in confusing times.

This lectures series is organized by Studio Europa Maastricht and Studium Generale.

The individual lectures

1.    Geoeconomics and Industrial Policy – Tordoir (9 April)
2.    Europe’s Security Policy and the Role of the NATO – Ewers-Peters (16 April)
3.    Moral Dimensions of AI and Big Tech; Europe’s Policy – Gabriels (23 April)
4.    The History and Future of EU Climate Action – Van Zon (30 April)
5.    Public Responses to Europe’s Turbulence – Melman (7 May)

About the speakers

• Nele Ewers-Peters, PhD, Assistant Professor for European Security, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Katleen Gabriels, PhD, Associate Professor in Ethics and Philosophy of Technology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Joris Melman, PhD, Postdoctoral researcher, Studio Europa Maastricht
• Sander Tordoir, Chief economist, Centre for European Reform, Brussels
• Koen van Zon, PhD, Postdoctoral researcher, Studio Europa Maastricht

Register here!