Vivien Schmidt Featured in U.S. News & World Report on French Elections
Vivien A. Schmidt, Professor Emerita of International Relations and Political Science at Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration, was recently interviewed by U.S. News & World Report. The Q&A, titled “Q & A: Macron’s Election Gamble in France,” was published on June 28, 2024.
In the interview, Schmidt discusses French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call for legislative elections, describing it as a “big gamble.” She explains that Macron’s party lost seats in the European Parliament elections, while the far-right National Rally party made significant gains.
Schmidt suggests that Macron’s strategy may be a miscalculation, stating, “More likely than not, what you can predict is he’s going to be in much worse shape at the end of this than he was.” She also notes that many members of Macron’s party may find themselves “looking for other jobs” after the elections.
The professor analyzes the potential outcomes and their implications for both French domestic politics and Europe more broadly. She points out that regardless of the results, Macron’s influence in Europe may be weakened.
Schmidt, who is also a Visiting Fellow at the Schuman Center, European University Institute, a Senior Fellow at the Zoe Institute, and an Honorary Professor at LUISS University, provides valuable insights into this complex political situation.
The full interview can be accessed on the U.S. News & World Report website.
Vivien Schmidt is a Professor of International Relations and Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and was the first Director of BU’s Center for the Study of Europe, housed at the Pardee School. Schmidt’s research focuses on European political economy, institutions, democracy, and political theory—in particular on the importance of ideas and discourse in political analysis. Read more about Professor Schmidt on her faculty profile.