Understanding Europe's Political Landscape: A Lecture by Prof. Chris Bickerton

Speaker: Prof. Chris Bickerton | Professor in Modern European Politics at POLIS The Complex History of Europe Contemporary histories of Europe often portray a narrative of miraculous recovery after the devastation of the Second World War. However, this perspective oversimplifies a complex reality. The countries of the Soviet bloc are frequently seen as latecomers, entering the democratic stage only in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Instead of viewing this period as a straightforward tale of resurrection, we should consider Europe's postwar history as one of implosion. After 1945, various political and economic systems emerged, each marked by distinct national characteristics. In Western and Northern Europe, social and Christian democratic frameworks took root. Meanwhile, autarkic authoritarian regimes developed in Portugal, Spain, and later Greece. Central and Eastern Europe fell under Stalinist influences. The narrative of contemporary Europe is, therefore, one of the gradual collapse of these national settlements throughout the 1980s and 1990s. This collapse was driven by significant social and economic changes, the exhaustion of ideological frameworks, and the corruption of political elites. Today, Europe continues to grapple with the legacy of this implosion. It has gained new freedoms, yet it has also lost the ideologies and identities that once helped Europeans understand themselves and their place in the world. The Speaker's Background Christopher Bickerton is a prominent figure in the field of Modern European Politics. He serves as a Professor at POLIS and is an Official Fellow at Queens' College, Cambridge. His academic journey began with a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) from Somerville College, Oxford. He furthered his studies with a Master's degree from the Graduate Institute in Geneva. In 2008, he earned his PhD from the University of Oxford (St John's College). Since then, he has held teaching positions at esteemed institutions, including Oxford, the University of Amsterdam (UvA), and Sciences Po in Paris.