In a world of shifting power balances where there is keen interest in the role of the ‘New Europe’, Professor Zielonka will speak at La Trobe University’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora on the topic of Europe’s Power Ambitions (12.30pm, Thursday, 3 May) and The Quality of Democracy after Joining the EU (1pm, Monday, 7 May), see venue details below.
His major Melbourne engagement will be a public lecture at the State Library of Victoria at 5.30 p.m on Wednesday 2 May. The subject of his lecture will be Europe as Empire: Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
Professorof European Politics at Oxford University and Ralf Dahrendorf Fellow at St Antony's College, Jan Zielonka will also give other seminars in Melbourne before visiting IUEU Network universities interstate.
The Director of the IUEU Network in Australia, La Trobe University historian, Dr Philip Bull, said Professor Zielonkais available for media interviews during his visit. Subjects for discussion can range from the future of the EU as a global power and member of the Western alliance to its role in relation to the threat of global terrorism, (see attachment for details).
‘With US comments about old and new Europe, tensions between France and Germany and other key member states, as well as French voters’ refusal to ratify the European Constitution and a host of other issues – from challenges of multiculturalism to the impact of the French presidential election – Jan Zielonka’s visit to Australia is extremely timely.’
As a major observer of contemporary Europe Professor Zielonka’s books include Europe as Empire (2006); Europe Unbound (2002); Democratic Consolidation in Eastern Europe (2001); and Explaining Euro-paralysis (1998).
Of Polish background, he worked in the Netherlands and at the European University Institute in Florence before moving to St Antony’s College at the University of Oxford. One of his major research interests is the changing nature of the EU and its eastward enlargement.
Details of Professor Zielonka’s Melbourne Program
Wednesday 2 May, 5.30pm: Public Lecture ‘Europe as Empire: Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome’ Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria. Sponsored by the IUEU Centre, the National Europe Centre, Monash European and EU Centre, and the Contemporary Europe Research Centre.
Thursday 3 May, 12.30pm: Seminar ‘Europe’s Power Ambitions’ Martin Building Room 362, La Trobe University’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.
Monday 7 May, 1.00pm: Lecture ‘The Quality of Democracy after Joining the EU’ Hooper Lecture Theatre, La Trobe University’s main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.
Note for Chiefs of Staff / News Editor:
Professor Zielonka is able to discuss these and a range of other topics:
Is the EU a global power?
Is the EU insular? Is it a global player? Is all the talk about ‘soft power Europe’ an attempt to disguise its weakness? Zielonka wrote about the limitations of Europe’s ability to act in international politics in Euro-paralysis (1998) and in Europe as Empire (2006).
Challenges of multiculturalism
Will Europe remain committed to its promise of open, multicultural societies? At the same time, can Europe address effectively the threat of terrorism?
Conflict of Civilisations?
Samuel Huntington thinks the world today is shaped by conflicts between the ‘West and the Rest’. What is the role of Europe in this? Can Europe defuse the perceived conflict of civilisations? What are the prospects of Turkey entering into full membership of the EU?
Is Europe really still a member of the Western alliance?
Is NATO dead? Trans-Atlantic relations are in crisis. Rumsfeld spoke of old and new Europe. The trigger was differing responses to the US-led invasion of Iraq. Serious tensions have been revealed between France and Germany and other key member states: Britain, the Czech Republic and Poland.
What impacts will the French presidential election have on the future of Europe?
France and Germany were once the engines of European integration. No longer; the economy in both countries for the last decade has been sluggish. French voters refused to ratify the European Constitution in 2005. Franco-German hostility towards the US has alienated some old (Britain) and new (Poland) partners in Europe. Tuesday, 1 May 2007La Trobe hosts visit by top commentator on 'New Europe' A leading specialist in European affairs, Professor Jan Zielonka, is visiting Australia this month as a guest of the Innovative Universities European Union (IUEU) Network and La Trobe University’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Johnson.For further information:
Professor Zielonka may be contacted through the following people at La Trobe University: Dr Stefan Auer Tel: 03 94793239 or 0437 841 454, Email: s.auer@latrobe.edu.au ; Margaret Ingate tel: 03 9479 3479 or Adrian Jones on 03 9479 2461.