European diversityEuropean diversity

Sander van der Leeuw

School of Human Evolution and Social Change

Arizona State University

Sander van der Leeuw

School of Human Evolution and Social Change

Arizona State University

10/19/07

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Europe’s diversity in 1519Europe’s diversity in 1519

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Europe’s unity in 2006Europe’s unity in 2006

Different historiesDifferent histories Much of the basic structure of Europe harks back to the Roman Empire

and beyond The ‘Dark Ages’ saw a decrease in structuration down to the village

level From the 11th century, a slow, bottom-up, restructuration Different in different parts of the continent:

France vs. Britain (1100’s to 1700’s): did the state create the nation or vv?

Netherlands and Iberia (1400’s and 1500’s): the role of the trade Empires

Germany and Italy: very late unification (1850’s-1870’s) under pressure from the top (Bismarck) and the bottom (Garibaldi and Cavour)

Southeastern Europe under the Turks until 1917 Belgium (created 1815) is still not sure

Much of the basic structure of Europe harks back to the Roman Empire and beyond

The ‘Dark Ages’ saw a decrease in structuration down to the village level

From the 11th century, a slow, bottom-up, restructuration Different in different parts of the continent:

France vs. Britain (1100’s to 1700’s): did the state create the nation or vv?

Netherlands and Iberia (1400’s and 1500’s): the role of the trade Empires

Germany and Italy: very late unification (1850’s-1870’s) under pressure from the top (Bismarck) and the bottom (Garibaldi and Cavour)

Southeastern Europe under the Turks until 1917 Belgium (created 1815) is still not sure

Fifty years of European IntegrationFifty years of European Integration Began just after WWII ECSC Treaty (1951) Euratom Treaty (1957) EEC Treaty (1957): six nations Single European Act (1986): twelve nations Maastricht Treaty on European Union (1992) 1995: fifteen nations Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) Treaty of Nice: (2001) 2004: ten new nations in C and E Europe Failed attempt at new constitution (2005)

Began just after WWII ECSC Treaty (1951) Euratom Treaty (1957) EEC Treaty (1957): six nations Single European Act (1986): twelve nations Maastricht Treaty on European Union (1992) 1995: fifteen nations Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) Treaty of Nice: (2001) 2004: ten new nations in C and E Europe Failed attempt at new constitution (2005)

Some statistics …Area: 23 million km2 (8 876 000 mi2)Population: 728 millionLanguages: English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Czech, Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Polish, Lithuanian, Lettonian, Estonian, Russian, Basque, etc.Legal systems: Anglo-Saxon, Napoleonic, GermanWealth differentials: Per capita GNP varies between $ 18,000 (Czech republic) and $ 60,000 (Luxemburg and Ireland), with most countries between $ 22,000 (Greece) and $ 32,000 (Ireland)

A huge enterpriseA huge enterprise Comparable to the unification of the US, except that the latter

was relatively under-populated at the time Conceived by visionary leaders, who had little idea of the

changes for the average European Some positive effects

Peace Tourism Economic reconfiguration Reconstitution of political power

Some negative effects: Political reconfiguration (large and small nations, regions) Bureaucratization: EU as the big bad wolf Role of agriculture Knowledge gap

Comparable to the unification of the US, except that the latter was relatively under-populated at the time

Conceived by visionary leaders, who had little idea of the changes for the average European

Some positive effects Peace Tourism Economic reconfiguration Reconstitution of political power

Some negative effects: Political reconfiguration (large and small nations, regions) Bureaucratization: EU as the big bad wolf Role of agriculture Knowledge gap

‘Europeanizing the scientific community’‘Europeanizing the scientific community’ Since the mid-1980’s a concerted attempt at

transforming science: Mobility, building of research networks, strengthening, creating

complementarities Leveling out the playing field between Western Europe and the

rest, to engage a larger community Series of Research and Technology Development programs

(7 to date over some 25 years) Industry driven, focused on specific actions negotiated

between the nations New class of scientists born Currently first attempt at ‘blue skies research’ (ERC)

Since the mid-1980’s a concerted attempt at transforming science: Mobility, building of research networks, strengthening, creating

complementarities Leveling out the playing field between Western Europe and the

rest, to engage a larger community Series of Research and Technology Development programs

(7 to date over some 25 years) Industry driven, focused on specific actions negotiated

between the nations New class of scientists born Currently first attempt at ‘blue skies research’ (ERC)

A crucial role for social sciencesA crucial role for social sciences

The need to better understand what happens socially Europe is only just awakening to that need Shock of the failed constitution

Research Framework plans 6 and 7 begin to give it a place

Each country its own tradition, organization, questions, language

Three main actors: institutions, communities, funders

The need to better understand what happens socially Europe is only just awakening to that need Shock of the failed constitution

Research Framework plans 6 and 7 begin to give it a place

Each country its own tradition, organization, questions, language

Three main actors: institutions, communities, funders

InstitutionsInstitutions

Universities, Research Organizations, National Academies, NGO’s, Industry-related Different objectives, constraints, decision-making, customs Examples: France, UK, Netherlands, Germany, E. Europe

Centralization vs. independence of institutions Facilities long under-funded, but change in pipeline

MSH, Data-Networks, Centers for Advanced Study Problems with SS data: access, comparability, language

Economics the main exception

Universities, Research Organizations, National Academies, NGO’s, Industry-related Different objectives, constraints, decision-making, customs Examples: France, UK, Netherlands, Germany, E. Europe

Centralization vs. independence of institutions Facilities long under-funded, but change in pipeline

MSH, Data-Networks, Centers for Advanced Study Problems with SS data: access, comparability, language

Economics the main exception

CommunitiesCommunities

Individual versus group research No sense of community, even nationally Long period of no-win territorial battles

Language barriers go deeper than in natural and life sciences SS born in many cases in nationalist context Focused on national issues and questions Different balance between ‘universal’ and ‘plural’ Difficult to translate and transpose

Political barriers do not simplify life

Individual versus group research No sense of community, even nationally Long period of no-win territorial battles

Language barriers go deeper than in natural and life sciences SS born in many cases in nationalist context Focused on national issues and questions Different balance between ‘universal’ and ‘plural’ Difficult to translate and transpose

Political barriers do not simplify life

FundersFunders

Different in each country, plus EU level Most funding is public in one way or another Spread & role of Foundations very uneven, but

generally less than US Problem with diversity of sources

Control over funding: National vs. European SS come in at a time when shift to National is occurring

More territorial, more bureaucratic, more control of scientific establishment, less innovative and risk-taking

Different in each country, plus EU level Most funding is public in one way or another Spread & role of Foundations very uneven, but

generally less than US Problem with diversity of sources

Control over funding: National vs. European SS come in at a time when shift to National is occurring

More territorial, more bureaucratic, more control of scientific establishment, less innovative and risk-taking

ConclusionConclusion

Diversity is a strength, but it is difficult to harness it The EU is slowly making a big difference The importance of institutional (vs. individual)

networking US and EU are in different stages of their development

EU more aware of need to share, to regulate, to organize This is more than politics and government: Awareness of limits, need to live together, strength in

association

Diversity is a strength, but it is difficult to harness it The EU is slowly making a big difference The importance of institutional (vs. individual)

networking US and EU are in different stages of their development

EU more aware of need to share, to regulate, to organize This is more than politics and government: Awareness of limits, need to live together, strength in

association