Schmidt Delivers Keynote at EURAM’s 25th Anniversary Conference
Professor Vivien Ann Schmidt recently delivered a keynote address at the 25th anniversary conference of the European Academy of Management (EURAM) in Florence, Italy. Titled “Wake up, Europe: How to Make the EU Fit for Purpose in a Changing World,” the speech highlighted chaos resulting from Trump’s second presidential term, domestically and internationally. Likewise, Schmidt shared recommendations for the European Union to improve policies related to security, industry, climate, governance and democracy and urged strategic utilization of EU bonds to bolster the cooperative group’s global leadership and influence.
Fellow colleague and member of the EURAM Sukanlaya Sawang said that Schmidt’s talk “offered a timely and sobering reflection on the state of global politics—from the disruptive impact of U.S. leadership to the EU’s role in navigating an increasingly unstable world.” The professor’s address challenged those in attendance to contemplate not only about ways for Europe to respond to these unprecedented circumstances but also to take a hard look at security, democratic governance, economic resilience, and commitment to shared values from a new lens.
During her talk, the Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration spoke about Trump’s second term which has taken a more precarious pivot than his previous presidency. Due to the rapid dismantling of several governmental agencies, attacks on press and universities, and a blatant disregard for the U.S. constitution, Schmidt believes that authoritarianism is putting down its roots in the country. Apart from national upheavals, the current administration is expeditiously withdrawing from climate agreements, disrupting longstanding alliances, and deprioritizing global leadership which as per the professor, could mark the end of American democracy.
Schmidt advised that leadership in Europe should pay heed to the current unfolding of events because an unstable situation in the States can empower authoritarian figures and populists across the world. Additionally, the professor asserts that Europe can no longer rely on the superpower for direction on key matters and to effectively deal with this new reality the EU should find its own purpose and leadership. For example, it needs to build its own military and strategic infrastructure and reform outdated EU rules that delay progress while revitalizing democratic structures. Schmidt also suggested that the union should utilize EU bonds to treat climate, technology, and security as shared investments instead of competing priorities.
Vivien Ann Schmidt is a Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration, Professor Emerita of International Relations in the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Professor Emerita of Political Science as well as the Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Europe, all at Boston University where she taught from 1998 to 2023. An authority on European politics and society, European Union, and France, she has written several books including Europe’s Crisis of Legitimacy: Governing by Rules and Ruling by Numbers in the Eurozone (2020) that was a recipient of the Best Book Award of the American Political Science Association’s Ideas, Knowledge, and Politics section. To learn more about her work and accomplishments, visit her faculty profile.