Global Fellow Colloquium - Extra Credit

 Cracks in the foundation – how to face the value crisis in the European Union?

 

Attending the Global Fellows Colloquium on the European Union’s value crisis helped me understand the frameworks that hold Europe together. Since I had little prior knowledge of the rules and regulations that bind the EU, I found the content of the talk somewhat complex. This challenged me to consider exploring European political systems more deeply on my to-do list. Nonetheless, I was able to gain a basic understanding of what unites European nations, the tension between legal frameworks and democratic values, and analyze the implications of EU value deterioration for minority communities.

 

I was particularly interested to learn that the EU was not originally founded on a commitment to human rights and democracy, but rather on economic cooperation intended to secure peace. This also highlighted my gaps in knowledge about international politics. As a political science major, I now feel even more obliged to educate myself about international law and governance. The historical absence of value-based commitments in foundational treaties, like the Treaty of Paris (1951) and the Treaty of Rome (1958), has led, over time, to visible cracks in the EU’s identity, especially as new political challenges emerge.

 

The exclusion of Russia from the Council of Europe following its invasion of Ukraine was mentioned as an example of the EU upholding the rule of law and human rights. However, it came at the cost of partially lifting the sanctions on Hungary to Secure its vote against Russia’s exclusion. Another interesting phenomenon that makes things more complicated is arresting a political opponent of one EU country by another which is what the binding values require but is against democracy. 

 

Lastly, I wonder what the future of democracy is going to look like. With the rise of right-wing parties and growing government control over social media, manipulating public opinion is becoming easier. This could have devastating consequences for minority groups, potentially eroding cultural diversity, human rights, and democratic norms around the world. (words: 321)


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