EU Views: Erik Jones
Name: Erik Jones
Nationality: United States
Occupation(s): Professor of European Studies and International Political Economy at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University; Senior Research Fellow at Nuffield College in Oxford
Connection to Europe: A US citizen, Erik Jones has lived in Europe for the last twenty-five years. He is the author of The Politics of Economic and Monetary Union (2002), Economic Adjustment and Political Transformation in Small States (2008), and, together with Dana Allin, Weary Policeman: American Power in an Age of Austerity (2012). His most recent book is a collection of short essays called The Year the European Crisis Ended (2014).
Date of interview: February 10, 2017
In this episode, Olya Yordanyan talks to Erik Jones about the idea of “Europe” and why it has losing currency in the face of populist challenges . He describes the failure of European democracy and the need for a compelling vision that to counter the rising nationalism that is keeping Europe mired in the present. He expresses his admiration for the single currency, among other accomplishments of the EU, but admits the need for Europe to communicate better, not only with its own citizens, but with its neighbors. If Europe does not rise to the challenge, he says, it will create an outsized role for the United States, with unfortunate consequences we are already seeing. Joining the conversation are program assistant Toria Rainey and Visiting Researcher and Marie Curie Fellow Gerry van der Kamp-Alons, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Radboud University.