Jean Monnet Guest Lecture on The Role of Conversations and Camaraderie in Countering Societal and Political Breakdown
On 13 May, the fourth Jean Monnet Lecture organised by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Crises and Emergencies in EU Integration (EmergEU) took place at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This was the final Guest Lecture of the Centre's first year.
Hakan Altinay, professor of the practice at Tufts University in Boston and Director of the European School of Politics in Istanbul, explored the current global atmosphere of malaise and disconnection in the guest lecture titled "Countering Societal and Political Breakdown: The Role of Conversations and Camaraderie".
During the thought-provoking lecture, Hakan Altinay pointed to overlooked positive developments and missed early warnings that, if noticed earlier, could have prompted a more constructive response to today’s challenges. The speaker called for a re-evaluation of our analytical tools and dominant political and social models, noting that technocratic thinking and a sanitised public language have dulled our sensitivity to deeper human needs. Central to the argument was a plea to revalue camaraderie and trust as essential social forces. The speaker emphasised the importance of curiosity, generous listening, and meaningful conversation, suggesting these are not only vital practices for democracy, but perhaps humanity’s greatest innovation. Historical examples such as John F. Kennedy’s 1963 speech at American University, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, and Turkish journalist Hrant Dink were cited as beacons of thoughtful political leadership and discourse. The lecture concluded with a call to action: to reclaim the art of the good conversation as a universally accessible tool for healing fractured societies and rebuilding trust.
This Jean Monnet Lecture was funded by the European Commission and Studio Europa Maastricht and convened by Andrea Ott and Giselle Bosse with the assistance of Clara Weinhardt.
Upcoming workshop
Register now for the upcoming EmergEU workshop "EU Crises and Emergencies: What’s in a name?" taking place on 16-17 June 2025.
