Europe faces critical internal and external challenges. This lecture series sought to bring alternative thinking to Europe’s role in the world. As a sound foundation to Europe’s international role, what can be said about the degree of internal cohesion? What is Europe’s longer-term response to crises in the East and the South? How is the transatlantic relationship evolving in light of these crises and the rise of China in the Far East? How should Europe view the “Arab Spring” and what is its response to the rise of ISIL? How can Europe simultaneously deal with threats on its neighbourhood and its global interests? How does Europe understand geopolitics and strategy today?
These were just some of the questions that were raised during an autumn lecture series jointly organised by the Institute for European Studies-VUB and the Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations. The lectures sought to enhance the thinking of European policy-makers in the realm of foreign, defence and security policy and strategy by inviting speakers from across Europe and father afield to stimulate the strategic debate in Brussels.
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