Rethinking Europe’s Place in a Shifting Global Order: Insights from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Jean Monnet European Union Center of Excellence for Populism and the Global Economy

By Andrea Lamarche

May 1-2, 2025

Jean Monnet Chair and Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs Mark Copelovitch brought together a distinguished group of scholars from the U.S. and Europe for the annual symposium of the Jean Monnet European Union Center for Excellence on Populism and the Global Economy. The May event focused on a timely and pressing question: How should we understand Europe’s evolving role in the global order amidst rising uncertainty, especially of the last three months?

Copelovitch opened the event with a compelling statement that set the tone: we are living through a pivotal moment. The international order is undergoing dramatic changes marked by the decline of post-WWII alliances, the weakening of the liberal international order, and a global shift away from established norms. The resurgence of war on the European continent, the rise of radical right-wing parties, and a protectionist U.S. administration seemingly hostile to traditional allies are all symptoms of a world in transition.

So how should Europe Union (EU) respond? What lies ahead for U.S.–EU relations? These were the central questions tackled by a panel of leading experts, who offered valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the European Union.

How Radical Right Parties Are Reshaping Europe

The first panel, featuring Stephanie Walter, Florian Foos, and Ethan Van Der Wilden, delved into the growing influence of radical right parties across EU member states.

Stephanie Walter, Professor of International Relations at the University of Zurich, explored the phenomenon of political contagion, where the electoral success of right-wing populists in one country can legitimize and fuel similar movements elsewhere in Europe. However, she also pointed out a counter-trend: the failure of these parties when in government can serve as a cautionary tale, potentially deterring voters in other countries. Ethan Van Der Wilden, PhD candidate in Political Science at the UW-Madison, examined how shifting social norms and nostalgia have contributed to the normalization of once-stigmatized radical right parties. He argued that the decline of post-WWII taboos has led to a “de-complexed” vote for the far right, an increasingly unashamed expression of support for views recently concerned retrograde.

Florian Foos, Professor in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics, turned the discussion to social media, questioning whether digital platforms have accelerated this normalization process. He warned of the dangers posed by the rollback of moderation policies on platforms like Facebook and X which allow misinformation to spread unchecked. Given the global nature of these companies and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, effective regulation remains elusive.

This panel tackled a critical internal challenge for the European Union, highlighting how deeply the populist wave is reshaping European politics.

Further important speakers and panels took place throughout the afternoon. This conference was made possible by grants from the support of the Erasmus + Program of the European Union through our Jean Monnet European Union Center of Excellence for Populism and the Global Economy, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through its support of UW-Madison through the Center for German & European Studies, now in its 28th year.

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