Elliot Posner, Ph.D. – Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science

Dear Colleagues:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had effects across Europe. On October 7, Andreas Sobisch joined us to discuss Germany’s response. Three weeks later, we’ll turn to the consequences for the European Union.

Shortly after the invasion, a high EU official proclaimed that, “(w)ith the invasion of Ukraine we witness the return of war and tragedy on European soil. We need to be more than a “soft power” and enhance our instruments to deter reckless adversaries.” Half a year later, European Union President Ursula von der Leyen declared that, “Fifteen years ago, during the financial crisis, it took us years to find lasting solutions. A decade later, when the global pandemic hit, it took us only weeks. But this year, as soon as Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine, our response was united, determined, and immediate… We have brought Europe’s inner strength back to the surface.”

Well, maybe. The response has likely been stronger than President Putin expected, but it is a long way from having an EU military force. And as recently as last year, the Economist was suggesting that the EU faced a “Calhounian moment,” as signs of defection and disunification included countries such as France, Germany, and Poland showing signs of “nullifying” EU decisions. The EU may have been strengthened not only by an outside threat but by a much more friendly U.S. administration. But serious tensions and its governance structure still raise doubts about what the EU can accomplish.

So what should we expect? Professor Posner teaches our course on the European Union and has published a wide range of research on it. He joins us to share his knowledge and perspectives.

In-Person and Virtual Attendance

In order to make it easy for people to protect themselves and still participate, the meetings are accessible on Zoom. Participants can register for each meeting in the same way they did for the past two years. The link is posted below.

This “dual delivery” remains a work in progress. Please be patient with any glitches. The ways we can set up video and audio to work for both people in the room and on Zoom are not perfect.

The discussion begins at 12:30 p.m., but the room should be open no later than Noon. We try to have beverages and refreshments set up soon after that. Participants should be able to sign on to Zoom also by Noon. But please remember not much will be happening online until the talk begins at 12:30 pm. Please also remember to show identification when entering Kelvin Smith Library.

Zoom participants should speak up when asked for questions or comments, or submit thoughts through Zoom’s chat function. Please keep yourself muted until you are choosing to speak.

Each week we will send out this newsletter with information about the topic. It will also include a link to register (for free) for the discussion. When you register, you will automatically receive from the Zoom system the link to join the meeting. If you do not get the newsletter, you should also be able to get the information each Monday by checking http://fridaylunch.case.edu/. Then if you choose you can use the contact form on that website to request the registration link.

This week’s Zoom link for registration is:

https://cwru.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vdeGhpjMrHdbUoeQ1TdmnfANSU0_WoG3_

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please e-mail padg@case.edu if you have questions about how the Zoom version of the Friday Lunch will work or any other suggestions. Or call at 216 368-2426 and we’ll try to get back to you. We are very pleased to be partnering this semester with the Siegal Lifelong Learning Program to share information about the discussions.

Best wishes for safety and security for you and yours,

Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

Special Event Announcement

RUSSIA’S MILITARY

A Global Currents Discussion with

DMITRY GORENBURG, Ph.D. – Senior Research Scientist, Russia Studies Program, Center for Naval Analyses

Thursday October 27, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom C
11038 Bellflower Road, Cleveland

Many observers have been surprised by Russia’s setbacks in its invasion of Ukraine. The strength of Ukraine’s response, and of support from other nations, is one reason. But another is that the Russian military has proved much weaker than expected. What issues of materiel and personnel, methods and morale, have shaped Russian performance? What can Russia do next, and what is its military likely to try?

Dr. Gorenburg’s research focuses on security issues within the former Soviet Union, Russian military reform, and Russian foreign policy. He also edits Problems of Post-Communism, is an Associate of the Harvard University Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, and has served as Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies. Free and Open to the Public.

Closest parking is the Severance Hall garage. This program is made possible by the generous support of Ms. Eloise Rollnick

About Our Guest

Elliot Posner’s research focuses on the politics of finance. Asking questions about the internal sources of the European Union’s external influence, the changing terms of transatlantic regulatory bargains, Europe’s culpability in the great financial crisis and the long-term effects of transnational voluntary standards, his publications engage scholarly debates about cooperation, institutions, market formation and regulatory power.

Elliot Posner teaches courses on international relations, the international political economy, finance, the European Union, and international non-governmental organizations. Before earning a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, he received degrees from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at the Johns Hopkins University (M.A.) and Brown University (B.A.). He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana, where he taught English and math to eighth and ninth graders.

* Kelvin Smith Library requires all entrants to show identification when entering the building, unless they have a university i.d. that they can magnetically scan. We are sorry if that seems like a hassle, but it has been Library policy for a while in response to security concerns. Please do not complain to the library staff at the entrance, who are just doing their jobs.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

November 4: Midterm Election Polls and Prospects. With Thomas Sutton, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of the Community Research Institute, Baldwin Wallace University, and CWRU faculty.

November 11: Law Enforcement and the Opioid Epidemic. With Daniel J. Flannery, Ph.D., Dr. Semi J. and Ruth Begun Professor and Director, Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education, MSASS.

November 18: The First Energy Scandal and the Challenge of Utility Regulation. With Miranda Leppla, J.D., Director, Environmental Law Clinic, CWRU School of Law.

November 25: Thanksgiving Break

December 2: To Be Determined

December 9: To Be Determined