Conference: Social sciences and humanities in Europe: New challenges, new opportunities Brussels December 2005 Mario Telo’ Institut d Etudes Européennes,Université Libre de Bruxelles Advisory Group Social sciences and Humanities, DG Research Political role of EU at global scale: which alternatives? My presentation will address: A) Methodological and organizational issues for next ten years of EU funded social research B) Social research contents regarding Europe in the world

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities A)Methodological and organizational issues: a) What do we mean by ‘Europe in the world’ as an interdisciplinary research topic? a) What do we mean by ‘Europe in the world’ as an interdisciplinary research topic? b) How to better combine theoretical and empirical research? b) How to better combine theoretical and empirical research? c) Which ways of strengthening international openness: supporting interregional research communities (transatlantic, with LA, Asia,Africa….) c) Which ways of strengthening international openness: supporting interregional research communities (transatlantic, with LA, Asia,Africa….)

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities a) What do we mean by stressing that ‘Europe in the world’ is an interdisciplinary research topic? What we need is a ‘bottom-up’ interdisciplinarity What we need is a ‘bottom-up’ interdisciplinarity Take stock of disciplinary excellence in Economics, Social sciences, International law, Political sciences, Comparative studies,Internatiional relations, History, Philosophy …, Take stock of disciplinary excellence in Economics, Social sciences, International law, Political sciences, Comparative studies,Internatiional relations, History, Philosophy …, while fostering cooperation and (episthemological) dialogue between multidisciplinary parallel agendas on Europe in the World while fostering cooperation and (episthemological) dialogue between multidisciplinary parallel agendas on Europe in the World

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities b) Better combining theoretical and empirical research? - Supporting theoretical innovation and authonomy: towards a European vision of International relations? - Comparative empirical research: impact studies, measuring external policies efficiency - Anticipating future issues and challenges of next decade: forsight research

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities c) Which ways of strengthening international openness of EU research funded projects? Missions in China, Brazil, South Africa: what is expected? Missions in China, Brazil, South Africa: what is expected? 1. Firstly: administrative simplification….. 2. Secondly: more inclusive projects and/or smaller networks 3. EU supporting ‘inter-regional research communities’: transatlantic, with Lat.America, South and East-Asia, Africa…. 4. Supporting research on the other’s image of Europe (from memories of the colonial era to perceptions and expectations about the current EU role) 5. Linking research and dissemination,Phd education, out of the « brain drain model » A window of opportunity! A window of opportunity!

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities B) SOCIAL RESEARCH ON EU IN THE WORLD: CONTENTS Whatever the effects of the current political crisis may be, the EU already is not only recognized as the most relevant example of regional cooperation but also the second global actor. This “longue durée” process should never be forgotten when dealing with major events as 1989 and 2001 (or 2005) Research should focus on the distinctive features of the EU’s global role, its past and present interplay with the near and far external environment, its particular geopolitical interests, its peculiar role in providing experiences and ideas, namely more legitimacy, to the global regulating network, and its consistent concept of “comprehensive security”.

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Beyond the rhetoric alternative between military power or free market area, research should focus on the empirical and theoretical insights on the following research fields: a) EU as example of regional governance, supporting or reacting to globalization: social and economic research….. b) Europe in the world: alternative scenarios for a widening EU: demography, social sciences, economics, history, including studies on ‘European decline’….. c) EU as a ‘norm setting power’ at continental and global levels; research on legitimacy and accountability: international law, philosophy, political science….. d) EU as a “strange” power, a pillar of a more efficient and accountable multilateral regulating network.

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities d) EU as a “strange” power, : fostering research on innovative concepts coping with both the distinctive features of EU inside/outside policies and with the challenges of realist and neorealist traditional theories: Power: - From ‘regional regime’ to ‘polity’? from ‘entity or player’ to ‘actor’? Which new notion of foreign policy and external relations? Comparative and theoretical research - - ‘civilian power’,versus ‘classical’, beyond both,‘civilizing’, and ‘soft’. Idealistic and/or realistic understading - - International identity and the Multilateralism: - as a method/procedure or also as a value? - as a form of global governance or also of world order? - ‘effective’, ‘competitive’, ’multilevel’, ’regional’, ‘inter-regional’, ‘ad hoc’…….

Conference: Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities In conclusion, complexe and difficult challenges for European multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary social research! In conclusion, complexe and difficult challenges for European multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary social research! However, already in the past, emerging international actors have fostered social research in various directions. For example: - the Greek and Roman civilization : law, philosophy….. - the Greek and Roman civilization : law, philosophy….. - the British empire: economy,ethnology, anthropology…. - the British empire: economy,ethnology, anthropology…. - US hegemony: neorealist international relations theory… - US hegemony: neorealist international relations theory… - And the EU as a research power? And the EU as a research power? EX LABORE MAGNUM GAUDIUM? EX LABORE MAGNUM GAUDIUM? Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your attention!