Realizing Europe

Realizing Europe: The Lisbon Treaty in Perspective

April 28-29th, 2011

Co-organized by Deborah Reed-Danahay, Michael Halberstam, and Vasiliki Neofotistos
When: April 28-29th, 2011
Where: University at Buffalo Law School (North Campus), 509 O'Brian Hall
Registration: Attendance is free and open to the Public. BaldyRSVP@buffalo.edu

As many scholars have argued in recent years, there is a particular urgency to interrogate what Professor Rodolphe Gasché (2009) calls the "infinite task" of Europe. This conference speaks directly to this task by creating a forum for an interdisciplinary discussion that will critically reflect upon The Lisbon Treaty of the European Union (which went into effect in December 2009) and its socio-cultural, political, legal, scientific, and historical implications.

The Lisbon Treaty complicates understandings of European consciousness even as it seeks to strengthen Europe (both at home and abroad) and European subjectivity. The EU is an emergent "imagined community" with new symbolic and rhetorical forms (such as its flag, anthem, and slogan "unity in diversity") and new sources of funding to support its policies at the local, regional, and national levels. Realizing Europe is a conference organized to enhance better understandings of Europe, both as an idea and as a political project, through dialogue across disciplinary and international borders.

The conference organizers have invited a small number of distinguished presenters from Europe and North America who will discuss various themes related to such topics as EU citizenship, immigration, education, science and technology, law, cultural policy, and Europe and its nation-states.

Conference Cosponsors

An international conference at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) cosponsored by the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy and the Center for European Studies (CEUS).

CEUS Baldy

Additional support has been generously provided by the following:

  • The Law School
  • The College of Arts and Sciences
  • The Cultures and Texts UB2020 Strategic Strength
  • The Department of Anthropology
  • The Office of the Vice Provost for International Education
  • The Melodia E. Jones Chair
  • The Baldy Center Working Group on Law and Anthropology
  • The Baldy Center Working Group on Law and Europe