Seminar: Making sense of international (dis)order: a European perspective (København)

Over the past couple of decades, we have been operating under the assumption that the Liberal International Order would prove sufficiently inclusive, productive and resilient to serve as a stable framework for international cooperation.

But as authoritarian challengers like Russia and China have become more self-assertive, and the US has abdicated its leadership role in favor of Trump’s “America First” doctrine, key liberal principles such as free-trade, multilateralism and even liberal democracy itself have come under increasing pressure.

Meanwhile, from a European perspective, a host of seemingly existential challenges – including the refugee crisis, the rise of populism, Islamic terrorism and autocratic tendencies in Eastern Europe – threatens to undermine the liberal underpinnings of the EU at a critical juncture when Brexit is already taking its toll on Europe.

DIIS has invited Mark Leonard, Director and co-founder of the European Council on Foreign Relations, to Copenhagen to take a closer look at the disruptive forces that are currently undermining the Liberal International Order.

Mr. Leonard will trace the roots of the liberal order, identify its key principles and take stock of the current crisis: are we facing its wholesale collapse and, if so, what is likely to replace it?

From a European perspective, Mr. Leonard will offer a diagnosis of the multitude of challenges facing the EU and its liberal underpinnings.

Specifically, he will present his views on how the EU can preserve the dream of a strong liberal order internally, while accepting a return to a weaker liberal order in the rest of the world.

Speakers

• Mark Leonard, Director, the European Council of Foreign Relations
• Trine Flockhart, professor, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent
• Louise Riis Andersen, Senior Researcher, DIIS
• Andreas Bøje Forsby, Researcher, DIIS

Programme

15.00-15.10: Introduction
v/ Andreas Bøje Forsby

15.10-15.50: What Liberal World Order?
v/ Mark Leonard

15.50-16.00: Coffee break

16.00-16.10: Comment
v/ Louise Riis Andersen

16.10-16.20: Comment
v/ Trine Flockhart

16.20-17.00: Q&A session
v/ Andreas Bøje Forsby

Practical information

The seminar will be in English and livestreamed on diis.dk.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use our online registration form no later than Tuesday 6 February 2018 at 12.00 noon. Livestream does not require registration.

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