

Laïcité, Populism, and the Future of the French Left – an interview of Professor Marlière
EI student ambassador Yanis Fekar interviewed Professor Philippe Marlière on current french politics trends and future possible outcomes. Continue reading Laïcité, Populism, and the Future of the French Left – an interview of Professor Marlière

Pan-European Parties: What are they and what influences their domestic success?
UCL student Sara Leal de Matos-Powell studied a transnational European party to understand what factors influenced its electoral success. Here’s what she discovered. Continue reading Pan-European Parties: What are they and what influences their domestic success?

A lost aesthetic? Bringing back French literature by Belle Époque women
PhD student Daria Chernysheva writes that the cultural output by a generation of women writers in Belle Époque France amounts to an overlooked aesthetic movement. Continue reading A lost aesthetic? Bringing back French literature by Belle Époque women

Learning about Possible Futures: How Foresight Analysis improves governance and emergency preparedness
Dr Valentina Amuso (UCL) and Dr Lieve Van Woensel (EPRS) consider how policymakers can best approach technological change through contextual awareness, stakeholders involvement, and a multidisciplinary approach Continue reading Learning about Possible Futures: How Foresight Analysis improves governance and emergency preparedness

3 Key Takeaways from Klaus Welle’s Visit to UCL
Sofia Elena Massacesi reflects on her interview with Mr. Welle and his insight on how management and European politics come together in the European Union’s leadership. Continue reading 3 Key Takeaways from Klaus Welle’s Visit to UCL

Windsor Framework: why Rishi Sunak was able to secure the Brexit deal that others couldn’t
Dr Uta Staiger writes that the newly announced Windsor Framework marks a positive turning point for EU-UK relations, but whether it holds will be continually tested. Continue reading Windsor Framework: why Rishi Sunak was able to secure the Brexit deal that others couldn’t

Twelve Months Since the Beginning of Russia’s Renewed Invasion of Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine wages on, Dr Mart Kuldkepp argues that Russia has no real path to a genuine victory, but that the West must give its unwavering, unconditional support to Ukraine. Continue reading Twelve Months Since the Beginning of Russia’s Renewed Invasion of Ukraine

Scotland, Independence and the EU: What did Nicola Sturgeon achieve and where now?
Following the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s First Minister, Kirsty Hughes discusses the legacy of Sturgeon’s leadership and her aspirations for Scottish independence and EU membership. Continue reading Scotland, Independence and the EU: What did Nicola Sturgeon achieve and where now?

Multilingual Europe and its plurilingual immigrant parents
Marina Antony-Newman discusses the value of plurilingual immigrant parents and what we can learn from their linguistic practices. Continue reading Multilingual Europe and its plurilingual immigrant parents

The EU and Ukraine: Strategy and Morality
Professor Sven Biscop analyses the EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the distinction between strategy and morality, and posits that in international politics there is no such thing as unconditional support. Continue reading The EU and Ukraine: Strategy and Morality

Hedging bets: UK business lobbying in Brussels post-Brexit
Professor David Coen and Dr Alexander Katsaitis highlight actions that UK business can take to maintain its relevance and influence in Brussels, post-Brexit. Continue reading Hedging bets: UK business lobbying in Brussels post-Brexit

Affairs in Berlin: Harold in Germany, Vita in Love
Kathryn Batchelor, Professor of Translation Studies and Director of UCL Centre for Translation Studies, reflects on the significance of a new exhibition at Sissinghurst Castle Garden bringing British-German friendship firmly into view through an exploration of the Sissinghurst Castle Garden library. Continue reading Affairs in Berlin: Harold in Germany, Vita in Love

Scotland’s Independence Debate and the New UK Prime Minister
Dr Kirsty Hughes explores views on and prospects for Scottish independence, and the possible implications of Liz Truss as UK Prime Minister. Continue reading Scotland’s Independence Debate and the New UK Prime Minister

Between empire and democracy: the complex legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev
Una Bergmane explores the complex and competing legacies of Mikhail Gorbachev, particularly in the Baltic states, and the incompatibility he encountered between the democratisation of Soviet society and the preservation of the Soviet empire. Continue reading Between empire and democracy: the complex legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev

Gorbachev was no saint. But he was a kind of hero
Professor Mark Galeotti reflects on Mikhail Gorbachev’s capacity to fail productively, following news of the death of the former General Secretary of the Soviet Union on 30 August 2022. Continue reading Gorbachev was no saint. But he was a kind of hero

Which multipolar partner: Russia or Europe? China’s Ukraine dilemma
Richard McMahon explores Chinese narratives of political relations between Russia, Europe and the US and how they frame Russia’s war on Ukraine. This article draws on Dr McMahon’s research on Chinese scholarly representations of the EU. Continue reading Which multipolar partner: Russia or Europe? China’s Ukraine dilemma

The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A UCL student perspective
UCL SSEES student Freya Proudman underlines the power of young people in upholding and revitalising European values with new life and enthusiasm and calls for youth activism and civic participation to be meaningfully supported. Continue reading The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A UCL student perspective

The Values of Europe (Mini-series): Promoting and Defending European Values
Dr Mart Kuldkepp highlights the values that European institutions have promoted on a national and international stage, and argues that in response to Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine, Europe must now be ready to defend these values by force of arms, if necessary. Continue reading The Values of Europe (Mini-series): Promoting and Defending European Values

The Values of Europe (Mini-series): Balancing universalist and particularist influences; Navigating uniformity and flexibility
Professor Ronan McCrea argues that an understanding of the EU as a polity based exclusively on shared liberal democratic values obscures the tension between universalist and specific influences within the Union, and explores the limits of the shared values the EU can insist upon, while sustaining the integration project. Continue reading The Values of Europe (Mini-series): Balancing universalist and particularist influences; Navigating uniformity and flexibility

The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A view from the Netherlands
His Excellency Karel van Oosterom Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom, highlights three values that the Dutch hold dear and seek to promote on a European and a global stage. Continue reading The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A view from the Netherlands

The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A view from the Czech Republic
Her Excellency Marie Chatardová, Czech Ambassador to the United Kingdom, underlines the fundamental importance of the right to self-determination for countries big and small, in Europe and across the world. Continue reading The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A view from the Czech Republic

The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A view from Italy
His Excellency Raffaele Trombetta, Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, argues Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an incentive for the European Union to move forward, and identifies next steps for the European project. Continue reading The Values of Europe (Mini-series): A view from Italy

What will the ongoing changes in Baltic Sea regional security mean for the future?
Dr Mart Kuldkepp explores the implications of a new consensus in Baltic Sea regional security. Continue reading What will the ongoing changes in Baltic Sea regional security mean for the future?

This time around, the threat of a Le Pen presidency is real
The far Right does not command a majority in France. But Macron’s arrogance and elitism, plus divisions on the Left, could hand it a victory, writes Professor Philippe Marlière. Continue reading This time around, the threat of a Le Pen presidency is real

Ukraine analyses, Vol. 2
Explore a second collection of analyses from UCL experts across the disciplines, on the unfolding war in Ukraine. Continue reading Ukraine analyses, Vol. 2

The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis: Six Elements of an Effective Response
Professor Christian Dustmann and Professor Ian Preston identify six steps public policy-makers in the EU and the UK can take in response to the latest immigration wave facing Europe, based on lessons learnt from previous refugee crises. Continue reading The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis: Six Elements of an Effective Response

On Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: A Call to Action for the UK Higher Education Sector
Dr Uilleam Blacker calls for more decisive, concerted action from UK universities in support of the academic community of Ukraine. Continue reading On Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: A Call to Action for the UK Higher Education Sector

UCL analyses of Russia’s war on Ukraine
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has brought war to Europe, catalysed a humanitarian and refugee crisis, and transformed the continent irrevocably.
In response, the European Institute has collated comment pieces from academics across UCL, with expertise spanning Russian, Ukrainian and East European Studies, Political Science and International Relations, History, Political Thought and Literature. Continue reading UCL analyses of Russia’s war on Ukraine

Illegal immigration: cracking down on smuggling makes gangs more organised – and costs migrant lives
David Suber discusses the latest UK government’s illegal migration bill, which aims to tackle the rise in small boat Channel crossings by removing anyone who arrives in the UK without permission to enter. The bill is in committee stage, but critics have argued that the focus should be on cracking down on smuggling gangs. Continue reading Illegal immigration: cracking down on smuggling makes gangs more organised – and costs migrant lives