The Dwarfing of Europe ? | publication and online resources

"Europeans have to revise their mental maps about the emerging powers." Professor Rajendra K. Jain, Chairman and Professor at the Centre for European Studies, India at The Dwarfing of Europe debate in Amsterdam in May.

The timely event launched a vibrant debate about Europe’s role in a shifting global context, set against the backdrop of the ongoing financial crisis and growing scepticism about the European project. Gathered experts reflected on the cultural and social dimension of the new relationships between Europe and the ‘new economic powers’.

“If the ‘dwarfing of Europe’ indeed happens, then Europe only has itself to blame,” says Renée Jones-Bos, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands. She made her comments during a keynote speech at last month’s hugely successful Dwarfing of Europe conference.

The thought-provoking two-day programme – organised by European Cultural Foundation, De Balie and Tilburg University on 22 and 23 May 2013 in Amsterdam – included two lively and well-attended public debates and a closed seminar for international experts from Brazil, India and China.

If you weren’t lucky enough to make it to Amsterdam last month, you can still get all the news from The Dwarfing of Europe event:

·         You can download summaries of all the main speeches, as well as listening to the debates via both audio and video

·         You can watch a video compilation featuring in-depth interviews with the speakers

·         You can read the journalistic report ‘A lesson in modesty’ (in English or Dutch), which draws out the main themes of the conference with reflective quotes by the speakers

You can read press coverage of the event in: Volkskrant, Parool, Inzaken.eu. And you can order a copy of the first volume of our publication series called The Dwarfing of Europe that was launched at last month’s event – inviting thinkers from the Balkans, Belarus, the Middle East and Asia to reflect on Europe’s identity. Volumes 2 and 3 are planned for later this year.