Panel EU Crisis Management June 1-2, Leiden University
The Dutch-Belgian Political Science Meeting will be held in Leiden. One of the panels is on crisis management and the EU.
MANAGING TRANSBOUNDARY CRISES IN THE EU Convenor Prof. dr. Arjen Boin (Political Science Institute, Leiden University) Contact person and email Donald Blondin, Political Science, Leiden Univ. (d.b.blondin@fsw.leidenuniv.nl); Wout Broekema, Public Administration, Leiden Univ. (w.g.broekema@fgga.leidenuniv.nl)
Short abstract (max. 50 words) In the context of recent financial and migration crises, and the imminent threats of cyber-attacks and climate change, this workshop takes up the timely challenge of detailing different types of transboundary crises, their respective impacts, and the prospects for their management, particularly with regard to the European Union.
Long abstract (max. 500 words) The European Union has recently been gripped by a host of transboundary crises – think not just of financial crisis and austerity, but of the refugee crisis, the Ebola epidemic, the Icelandic ash cloud, and the imminent threat of cyber-attacks and climate change. We define such crises by their capacity to impact multiple political jurisdictions and policy sectors, and we observe that their incidence and impact are growing as a result of several drivers, including global integration. Some of these complex threats – cyber-attacks and climate change, for example – are novel; to others, including disease outbreaks, financial implosions, and critical infrastructure failures, our interdependent societies have simply become more vulnerable. 14 Indeed, these crises are now revealing the full extent of economic, ecological, and infrastructural interdependence and thereby the limits of nation-states’ individual crisis management strategies and capacities. Nowhere are these developments being felt more strongly than in the highly interconnected and geographically proximate member states of the EU. This workshop therefore takes up the timely challenge of detailing different types of transboundary crises, their respective impacts, and the prospects for their management, particularly with regard to the EU. Among the planned thematic focal points are health security, critical infrastructure risk reduction, disaster diplomacy and crisis decision-making, the organization of national and supranational agencies for crisis coordination, and associated legal and human rights issues, but other relevant contributions are welcome. In line with the diverse nature of the crisis management literature, an array of perspectives will be brought to bear on these topics, including international relations and EU studies; public administration and law; and political behavior, communication, and sociology. Language papers English or Dutch (with English summary or abstract) Language discussions English.