The presentation will examine the relationship between Europe and the nation-state, how lessons from 1989 are shaping responses in 2015, and the role of Germany. The refugee crisis has drawn attention to parallels between 1989 and 2015. Three possible lessons are currently being drawn. One is that Europe needs to be shrunk to a manageable core. A second is that it would be best to do nothing, because the European structure is so brittle that any change might shatter it. A third possibility is to return to a Europe of nation-states. Each of these "lessons" is deeply problematic. Prof. James will propose a fourth alternative: to develop a concept of Europe as an insurance mechanism against global shocks.
