Past Events

Professor Phil Allmendinger (University of Cambridge)

Contentious politics and public services in the European Union

Dr Amandine Crespy (Free University, Brussels/Queen Mary's, London).

Room S2, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DT.

Thursday 15 January 2015, 17:00-18:30

The European Professionals Series presents a talk by:

Anthony Teasdale, Director General of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS)
Topic: The Politics of the Junker Commission
Date and time: 12 December, 4.45-5.30 pm
Location: Alison Richard Building (ARB), 7 West Road, 1st floor, room 138.

The European Professionals Series presents a talk by:

John Peet, Europe Editor, The Economist
Topic: Reporting and writing on EU Affairs in times of crisis
Date and time: 4 December, 5-6.30 pm
Location: Alison Richard Building (ARB), 7 West Road, 1st floor, room 138.

The UK political class currently suffers from a loss of trust and a loss of legitimacy, following a series of scandals and policy failures. Fewer citizens vote for either of the two main parties, an increasing number abstain altogether, membership of political parties is in sharp decline, the political class is recruited from an increasingly narrow section of society, and new forms of populism and anti-system politics are on the rise which threaten the values of a liberal pluralist polity. The contrast is often made with the lost world of the 1950s when responsible and representative government seemed to go together. But there are many reasons why a return to politics as it was practiced in the 1950s would be impractical as well as undesirable. The malaise of contemporary politics has its roots in the way modern democracies have evolved. The legitimacy of the political class has relied on a fund of moral capital built up in the past which for a variety of reasons has been steadily depleted. No-one is quite sure if or how it can be replenished. It may be that we are stuck with the democracy we have, but will that be enough to deal with the challenges we face?

Professor Andrew Gamble FBA, Professor Emeritus of Politics at the University of Cambridge, will deliver this lecture which is part of the VHI Themed Lecture Series 'Ethical Standards in Public Life'. This series is co-hosted with St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

Andrew Gamble was the first Head of the Department of Politics and
International Studies, and Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and
Social Sciences at Cambridge University. His research interests include exploring the complex interrelationships between state and economy, and the ideas, policies and institutions through which these are expressed.

Free entrance, no booking necessary.

The European Professionals Series presents a talk by:

Hans-Hartwig Blomeier, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung office in Great Britain

Topic: The role of political foundations in European cooperation and integration

Date and time: 21 November, 3-4.30 pm

POLIS Energy Security Series presents:

EU Foreign Policy and Energy Diplomacy a talk by Dr Alexandros Yannis, Energy Diplomacy Coordinator, European External Action Service, EU

Date: Wednesday, 19 November 2014, 4pm

Location: Room 119, 1st floor, Alison Richard Building, Sidgwick Site.

Julia Harrison, Senior Managing Director, FTI Strategic Communications, Brussels
Topic: Brussels revisited: Public affairs in a radically changing political reality
Followed by drinks in the ARB, 1st floor Green Sofas Area, at 4.30 pm.

All welcome. Free entrance.

The European Centre at the Department of Politics and International Studies is delighted to announce a new regular event: the European Professionals Series. This series is meant to facilitate interaction and debate between European Affairs academic and professional circles based in and outside Cambridge.

The Cambridge University European Society is proud to invite you to its second speakers event of this term, which is taking place at the Faculty of Law (room LG17), Saturday, 25th October, 10.00-12.00am.