Magazine of the Allianz Alumni Network XXX No.No. 10 10

European Divides Where Publishing meets Politics The Impact of Digital Technologies Europe at a Crossroads Catalonia and Ukraine’s Status Alumni Projects and Achievements

1 Dear Alumni and Readers, Europe is facing growing divisions between rich and poor, East and West, liberal and illiberal governments. Editorial And even within European societies, the gap is widening between an educated elite able to profit from ­borderless mobility across the EU and a growing number of EU citizens who increasingly eschew a cosmo­ politan way of life in emphasizing their national identity and a locally rooted patriotism. Many of the latter are unsettled, even threatened, by cultural diversity. Indeed, a multi-perspective approach to viewing the world is Dear Fellow Alumni, Table of Contents being challenged by views that divide the world into “us” and “them.” The European Project at its core is a project of bridging divides, of bringing FOCUS • European Divides How should, or can, we respond to these developments with our projects? By demonstrating the opportunities to ­gether different nation states, cultures and economies. However, precisely in 4 The Digital Divide in Europe that cultural exchange and migration – both human and digital – bear for the modernization of our societies its attempt to bridge divides, this project faces once again serious challenges. 6 Cultural Divides in Literary Translation and our understanding of the world? Everyone who comes to Europe – with or without any material Be it significant differences in economic capability or policies: Europe cannot 8 Europe at a Crossroads ­belongings – carries their culture with them and therefore has just as much to offer as we to them. In the spirit boast of a lack of divides. We see divisions not only among individual nation- 10 Catalonia and the Rising Wave of Nationalism of mutually beneficial exchange, we should all pay more attention by listening to each other more closely. states and between nation-states and Brussels, but also within nation-states, as demonstrated by the crisis in Catalonia. European Developments Michael M. Thoss 11 The EU is Leaving Some of its Greatest ­ Managing Director of the Allianz Cultural Foundation With “European Divides” being our Focus topic, we raise in this issue the Enthusiasts out in the Rain ­following questions: What divisions can we identify and why do they pose a 12 Harnessing Ukraine’s Potential potential problem for the European Project? What can we do to bridge these ­divides? Though not inherently destructive, several of the divisions we Reflections Projects of the Allianz Cultural Foundation ­currently see in Europe pose dangers to its success, particularly in terms of its 14 The Alumni Magazine Reaches Its Tenth Issue capacity to act in a unified manner on the geopolitical stage. From divisions Jean Améry Prize for European Essay Writing with Award Ceremony in February 2018 between voices for autonomy and further integration to uneven distribution Internal Affairs Since 2015, the Allianz Cultural Foundation has cooperated with the Klett-Cotta Publishing House to promote the Jean of digital skills, we look at some problematic divides in contemporary Europe. 16 International Project Education Améry Prize across Europe every two years. Headed by Austrian author Robert Menasse, the prize’s international jury We therefore address a variety of divides regarding issues such as whether or for a Europe of Rights (EER) includes a number of prominent authors, literary scholars and critics. Initiated by the essayist’s widow, Maria, and the not to deepen integration and the uneven distribution of digital skills. 18 Jackpot Projects Klett-Cotta publishing house, the prize is awarded in memory of Jean Améry for outstanding achievements in literary 19 Alumni Council essay writing. The prize was awarded to four different authors in the years from 1982 to 1991. Following the death of Further, we look at European developments in Ukraine and reflect on the 20 Good Reads: What Alumni are Reading Maria Améry, Robert Menasse, winner of the Austrian State Prize for Cultural Politics (1998), revived the Jean Améry latest Allianz Summer Academy. ASAEuropean was also present in Kempfen­ 21 Alumni in Action Award in 2000. The 2018 prize was awarded to the Austrian essayist and literary critic Karl-Markus Gauß at a ceremony hausen, where it followed participants’ discussions first-hand. held in Berlin on February 11, 2018. As one of the limited number of prizes for literary essay writing in Europe, the Jean Portrait of an Alumnus Austrian essayist and Améry Prize awards recipients €15,000 and is one of the highest endowed awards of its kind. Also, we present the projects of active alumni within the ASA network as part 22 Connecting the Dots ­literary critic Karl-Markus https://kulturstiftung.allianz.de/en/funding_and_projects/operational_projects/jean_amery_prize/ of the “Jackpot Projects” supported by the ACF as well as an update from the Gauß Alumni Council. Members of the Alumni Network share their recommenda- Farewell tions and thoughts on current affairs and we encourage you to read the por- 24 Naples, Cultural Wellspring trait of Thomas Kösters. “Artists at Risk” – Residency Program for Artists and Authors at Risk The Allianz Cultural Foundation and several cultural institutions across Europe joined forces to Finally, I would like to end on a personal note. This will be the last magazine I award six to 12-month residencies to authors and artists from countries afflicted by war and support in the role of editor-in-chief, as I have decided to step down and make conflict such as Syria and Libya. Residencies are hosted by European cultural institutions, mak- room for the next generation. Patience Haggin will take over the role of editor- ing it possible for artists and authors, whose lives are at acute risk in their home countries, to in-chief for the upcoming issues. I am certain that Patience, a member of the continue their work. The Allianz Cultural Foundation offers a monthly grant of up to € 2,000 editorial team, an experienced journalist by trade and currently residing in per resident. Since early 2016, scholarship recipients include the Syrian filmmaker Zaher beautiful Naples, will further improve the magazine and add her signature to it. ­Alchihabi (Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart), the Syrian journalist and author Yasmin Merei (Sasha Waltz & Guests, Berlin), Syrian artists Dareen Abbas (WIELS, Brussels) and Bassel After being part of the editorial team for four years, three of which in the role ­Al-Saadi (Villa Romana, Florence). https://kulturstiftung.allianz.de/en/flight_displacement/ of editor-in-chief, which I took over from Andreas Lorek, I would like to say Nicolas Zahn Patience Haggin Stephanie Carstensen Untitled Ink on paper from Syrian artist thank you to you as supportive readers and writers as well as to my editorial Dareen Abbas, 2016 team colleagues and of course the ACF and Tempus Corporate for making this fantastic magazine possible. Keep the good ideas coming and the texts flowing! This magazine is a vital part of the ASA network, giving alumni not The Opening Collection – Kiron Student Magazine only a space to present their ideas but also to engage, reflect and stay aware of Founded in 2015, the online learning platform Kiron Open Higher Education provides refugees from around the world all the amazing projects happening within our network. I am already looking access to quality higher education. The blended learning model 2.0 consists of an online study phase of two years fol- forward to reading the next issue! lowed by another two years of study at one of the 54 partner universities across eight European countries. After comple- Anna Lászlo Ioana Andreescu tion, the students are awarded a fully accredited bachelor’s degree. Kind regards, In 2017, in cooperation with the Allianz Cultural Foundation, 30 out of the 3,000 Kiron students underwent profes- Nicolas sional training in creative writing and journalism in order to work on the first edition of a student magazine entitledThe Opening Collection. Their personal stories and experiences are featured in the magazine. Currently, the students are working on a second edition of the magazine which will be published in autumn 2018. In advance of publication, indi- Correction: The magazine’s 9th issue misattributed the authorship of the article “Fighting for Freedom” to Fabrizio Dell’Acqua. vidual articles will be shared on social media and on the Kiron Blog. A kick-off brochure will be made available in the Mr. Dell’Acqua authored only the portion of the article on page 11, not its portion on page 10. Due to an editing error, this article misstated the number of changes of government Italy has seen in the preceding 70 years, mischaracterized the author’s beliefs Cover of Kiron Student spring of 2018. The current version of the Kiron Student Magazine is available online: ­ ­regarding the relative strength of Italy’s ­executive power and ­parliament and erroneously implied that Matteo Renzi had been Magazine’s­ first issue https://issuu.com/kironopenhighereducation/docs/kiron_studentmagazine_online_76b437d54fcc69 elected to his appointed post as prime minister. Nadʼa Kovalcˇíková Michele MacMillan

2 3 Focus Focus

Surprising differences A number of indicators were used to deter- the workforce is equipped with digital skills, The Digital Divide mine where OECD States stand in terms of and updating social protection systems. Re- enabling the digital economy. The results yield Times, “digital technology can be an antidote garding trust, Europe might actually benefit surprising insights regarding European states. to the crisis of credibility and confidence in from emphasizing issues of privacy and secu- As a whole, Europe lags behind Asian OECD democratic institutions. It can bridge the di- rity that in the past, often times provoked in Europe States in terms of accessibility in particular. vide between the daily lives of citizens and the ­criticism from American companies. Robust For example, the average share of fiber in way in which politics is carried out. This is vi- directives and value systems foster trust in broadband networks, which allow for high tally important: at present, large minorities in digital services and facilitate citizens’ willing- While Europe is often seen as a developed region of the world, there are surprising transfer rates, is over 70 percent in Japan and Europe, especially younger generations, no ness to adopt them. But challenges regarding differences between the Member States in the field of digitalization. This divide poses Korea but only around two percent in EU longer see democracy as a good system of gov- states such as Germany, Austria and Ireland. ernance.” Europe and its Member States need a problem for economic development across the continent. by Nicolas Zahn (ASA 2013) And there are notable differences within Eu- to ensure that all members of society benefit Governments are asked to rope itself. As Figure 1 shows, the Baltic states from digital technology. ­review legacy frameworks lead in mobile data usage while Germany lags behind. Yet Germany is the leading European Closing the digital divide and foster innovation. nation when it comes to deploying robots as The Digital Economy Outlook highlights part of the workforce. The digital divide with- three priorities: 1) creating reliable and af- cybersecurity remain for the private and public in Europe thus shifts depending on the indica- fordable access; 2) building trust in the digital sectors. In addition, governments need to rec- tor and defies traditional divides between transformation; and 3) updating governance ognize the horizontal spread of digitalization Northern and Southern European states. models to include the digital economy. For and break down silos between ministries, pur- each category, the report also offers recom- suing, as the report suggests, “government-as- Across all countries, a demographic divide is mendations to help European countries over- a-whole approaches.” also apparent, with over 95 percent of citizens come these divides. Governments are asked to below 30 using the Internet on a regular basis review legacy frameworks and foster innova- Increasing investment and coordination are compared to 63 percent in the cohort of tion. Startups are a potential driver of innova- two important aspects of digitalization. Flag- 55 – 74 year-olds. This is an important factor tion and digital technology use, but are all too ship initiatives such as the Digital Single for the growing digital transformation of the often restricted by a lack of finance or restric- ­Market show that the political will to take public sector which involves an ever-growing tive legal frameworks. In order to tackle grow- digitalization seriously exists. Let us hope that number of government services being pro- ing fears of automation, policymakers also Europe manages to realize the potential of the vided through digital channels. It is important need to focus more on education, ensuring digital economy for our benefit. here to address the needs of those groups within the population that might not be able or willing to engage digitally with the public sector. Mobile data usage is uneven across countries Mobile data usage per mobile broadband subscription, gigabytes per month, The importance of getting it right end-2016 (selection of OECD countries) Variations in indicators between different countries are not bad per se. Indeed, differ- ences are an integral part of resource competi- tion. For example, companies prefer to open Finland 11 offices where they can expect good returns on Latvia 8,2 their investments, and citizens want to live in countries that offer a good quality of life. Korea 3,8 However, divides within Europe in digitaliza-

tion pose a problem because they mean that United States 2,7 the continent as a whole lags behind interna- The average share of fiber in broadband networks differs extremely between OECD Member States. tionally in realizing the potential of new tech- Japan 2,1 nologies. Since its use in the World Develop- ment Report 2016, the term “digital divide” is United Kingdom 1,8 As digital technologies impact a growing also ensuring that our rights are maintained. tries’ comparatively high level of industrializa- commonly associated with development is- ­number of areas in our daily life, they are be- As we highlighted in Issue 8 of this magazine, tion, the problems faced by many Member sues and the widely known split between in- Italy 1,7 coming increasingly embedded within and various aspects of digitalization are high on States in this area is surprising. However, ac- dustrial and developing countries. However, thus essential for more and more activities. the agenda of European policymakers, and cording to the OECD’s Digital Economy Out- the term can also apply to Europe, given the France 1,6 Governments must therefore remain apace rightly so. Indeed, several new initiatives and look 2017, presented in October by Secretary- sometimes stark differences in digitalization with technological progress and provide the regulations addressing digital transformation General José Ángel Gurría and Director for between its Member States. Getting digitaliza- Germany 1,2 infrastructure and frameworks needed to en- processes in the health sector, education, labor Science, Technology and Innovation Andrew tion right and closing the digital divide, how- Source: OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2017 sure that citizens can benefit from the oppor- markets and government institutions have Wyckoff, within the OECD, “progress has ever, is crucial. According to a recent essay by tunities provided by the digital economy while been implemented. Given European coun- been uneven across countries and sectors.” Spyros Tsaousis appearing in the Financial Figure 1: Mobile data usage is but one indicator illustrating a digital divide in Europe.

4 5 Focus Cultural Divides in ­Literary Translation

For a writer, being published in a major language is essential to gaining international ­renown. For minority languages and cultures, playing a role in the international translation scene is essential to retaining relevance as a language of culture. This is why European- minded institutions invest in translation — and should continue to do so. by Patience Haggin (ASA 2013)

“I often discover writers who don’t have their “It’s very difficult to find Catalan writers writ- own agents, and who write in what people call ing in Catalan. This is a political position,” rare languages. Often, we act as an agent for said Laura Huerga Ayza, editor and founder of them,” said Laure Leroy, editorial director of “Her first big success was in French. We are her the Barcelona-based publisher Raig Verd, Paris-based publisher Éditions Zulma, speak- agent for the whole world, and we promote her which publishes both original work and ing at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October all around the world, and she’s been translated translations in Catalan, also speaking at the 2017. Zulma has published six authors from in 25 different countries,” Ms. Leroy said. Frankfurt Book Fair. “We have to understand Iceland, a country of about 300,000 people. that no language is better than another.” Literary translation can be key to promoting A Spanish language booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2017. Much to the surprise of the literary main- and integrating smaller European cultures. Raig Verd has published Catalan translations stream, Icelandic literature has caught on in Take the case of Catalan. Instruction in Cata- from 12 languages. “Translations are impor- major countries like France and Germany. The lan was banned in Spanish schools for 40 years tant to expand the market of Catalan readers,” Nordic country’s popularity began with the under Francisco Franco’s regime. Today, Cata- she said. Scandinavian crime fiction boom in 2005, but lan has about seven million speakers, accord- International as crucial funding to complete a also speaking at the book fair. The program is has broadened to include other fiction genres, ing to Barcelona’s city government. The publi- Translated fiction, particularly that translated translation. intended to attract even more foreign writers and even poetry. cation of a substantial corpus of literature in from languages with a small body of readers to Berlin’s international literary scene, where Catalan is essential to the grassroots move- and speakers, often is not commercially lu­ Publishing poetry in translation is even more Literary translation can translators already play a major role. Zulma first published Icelandic writer Auður ment to promote an ecosystem of readers and crative. Publishers often rely on grants from rare than in fiction. Given the difficulty of Ava Ólafsdóttir in French translation in 1998. writers in the language. ­governments or cultural foundations like PEN commercially marketing translated poetry, be key to promoting “Translating from a language to another lan- publishing poetry in translation is widely ac- and ­integrating smaller guage, publishing people from one culture in cepted to be possible only with the financial European­ cultures. another culture, is really a political act in it- help of sub­sidies. self,” Ms. Leroy said.

“It’s a bit problematic because you have to get erature programs to transcend national lan- A timely example is Tears of Salt: A Doctor’s your project passed through PEN or one of guage ­barriers, and even promote original Story, a book that doctor Pietro Bartolo wrote these agencies to make it happen,” said Ra writing in languages other than their national about treating migrants in the Italian island of Page, founder and editorial manager of Man- tongue. In 2018, the Berlin Senate’s Depart- Lampedusa, often their first port of call. His chester-based fiction publisher Comma Press, ment for Culture and Europe began offering book argues that European countries should also speaking at the book fair. “Funding can be work stipends for authors writing in languag- do more to respond to the humanitarian cri- a default censor in a way. … I’m not saying es other than German. Allianz Cultural Foun- sis. Its English translation, published in Janu- PEN are censors, but what doesn’t get funding dation supports translation by funding proj- ary 2018, makes his case accessible to the in- doesn’t get translated.” ects such as Finnegan’s List, an annual project ternational discussion over Europe’s political in which prominent writers suggest works that identity and its humanitarian commitments. Many national governments operate a funding deserve to be translated. scheme to sponsor foreign-language trans­ “Translators are both authors and readers,” lations of their national writers, as does the “In ten years we will see how this will change said Mr. Höllerer. “They are in diplomatic ser- European Union. A new program in Berlin German literature,” said Florian Höllerer, di- vice. Now more than ever, they have to be in Titles by publishers who discussed the importance of literary translation at the Frankfurt Book Fair. hopes to lead the way for state-sponsored lit- rector of the Berlin Literature Colloquium, diplomatic service.”

6 7 Focus Focus Europe at a Crossroads

From regional divides to major global challenges, the 2018 threshold seems to open up an might be summed up as follows: it was the Without shared values, the future of Europe ­ambiguous, complex and demanding socio-political EU landscape. Historical and mythological year of Donald Trump, economic disaster in could be determined by frontiers and borders, Venezuela, a series of slaughterous worldwide of expectation seems rather gloomy and un- by the mental barriers among its citizens, by approaches might suggest that a better understanding of an uncertain European present could terrorist attacks, renewed sanctions against certain, itself a rejection of the Brexit horizon. secluded “imagined communities.” In this be done by correlating present with past experience. Further, if lessons of the past inspire North Korea, the genocide in Myanmar with ­article, I quoted two people: I grabbed Presi- future decisions, a means of overstepping present uncertainty could be realized by recentering the Rohingya’s Muslim population described And if these two, Janus and Koselleck, feel so dent Trump by his Twitter, to highlight how

­European public debate on core values of the European society. by Ioana Andreescu (ASA 2009) as the world’s most-persecuted people, and a at ease with time, past, and collective memo- dangerous such irresponsible words and de­ landslide of #MeToos viral campaign. Why ries, maybe they would also remember that cisions can be. I then mentioned Ian McEwan, not also recall the global challenge of climate 2017 marked the 60th anniversary of the Trea- again to highlight that it would be more than change, and one of President Trump’s famous ty of Rome. The Treaty was a major stepping a pity – it would be a disaster – to build up a tweets: “In the East, it could be the COLDEST stone in the creation of the EU, proposing val- future of rejection and isolation. New Year’s Eve on record. Perhaps we could ues of peace, solidarity and democracy, but use a little bit of that good old Global Warm- also the freedom to move goods, services, Europe has endured difficult times, but it has ing that our Country, but not other countries, capital and people. not cracked. Europe’s past, shaped in part by was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS unpleasant memories of war and conflict, can to protect against. Bundle up!”. Published on And now what, quo vadis Europe? become a means of talking about the present, December 29, it sent a chill down the spine to My personal hope is that the values of solidar- of dealing with the present, of updating ambi- stunned readers. ity, democracy and freedom will be voiced tions and rebuilding itself. For both citizens more regularly in current political discourse and politicians, it might be a useful exercise to Without shared values, the and regain their relevance in discussions act like Janus the god and Koselleck the histo- about how best to ensure the European social rian, to bear in mind both the experience of future of Europe could project. Tax havens might be comfy, but they the past and the horizon of expectation – be determined by frontiers cannot provide a stable basis for a model soci- ­before expressing dissatisfaction with the im- ety. Simply because, as the philosopher Gilles perfect model that is the EU, which is not an and borders Deleuze argued, a purely capitalist mentality ­empire, a republic or a confederation, but a goes hand-in-hand with schizophrenia. union that has maintained peace since 1945. What if Janus the god and Koselleck the histo- rian focused instead on the EU itself? Then the German thinker and the two-faced Roman god would draw a summary of the 2017 expe- rience and project its hopes and concerns for 2018. In terms of politics, this would include The EU Parliament in Brussels the separatist crisis in Catalonia that created fragmented and polarized views sure to con- tinue into 2018. Separatist Barcelona might As I write this article at the beginning of 2018, eyes, K­ oselleck the historian turns towards the make one think of mourning Barcelona; Bar- I find it useful to start with the etymology of concept of horizon, a metaphorical device for celona’s Las Ramblas, London Bridge, Man- the word “January.” January is the month of identifying meanings of social history. These chester and Stockholm were some of the sites Janus, the god of beginnings, endings, gate- polyphonic, multiple horizons (horizons of of human loss as a result of terrorist attacks. ways, transitions, time and duality. I thus pro- experience, horizons of expectations) reflect pose the following thought exercise: what themselves in both the crises and progress of In 2017, the god and the historian would also would the god Janus have to say about the EU society, contributing to what Koselleck defines recall the Brexit process, launched on March and the milestones it has achieved, the divi- as the doubtless link between past and future, 29, which continues to defy understanding in sions within, the changes it has undergone and what he calls the “futures past.” the minds of many. The inability to accept the and the continuities that mark it? Brexit decision was emphatically summarized Today’s Western societies (including the EU, of by British author Ian McEwan in his May 12 To reinforce this hypothetic exercise, I will in- course) must confront the horizon of experi- speech at Central Hall: “In the current state of voke now another type of celebrity, let us say a ence to the horizon of expectation. But what Brexit politics, I belong to the smallest, sad- god of social sciences, the German modern kind of societies do current political, cultural, dest, most pessimistic faction. I’m a denialist. and contemporary historian Reinhart Ko- social and ecological horizons propose? Almost a year on, and I’m still shaking my selleck, who considers historical time and fu- head in disbelief – not a useful political act. I ture expectations together. In order to reunite From a Janus-meets-Koselleck perspective on don’t accept this near mystical, emotionally these two concepts that Janus watched with his the state of the world in 2017, the world’s po- charged decision to leave the EU. I don’t, I two-faced head and with two different pairs of litical, cultural, social and ecological horizons Roman god Janus can’t, believe it. I reject it.” Again, the horizon British author Ian McEwan holding a speech at Central Hall about his rejection to leave the EU.

8 9 European Developments The EU is Leaving Some of its Greatest Enthu­ siasts out in the Rain

Facing an existential crisis underway since the beginning of April 2017, the university community Activists sport Catalonia’s flag at Budapest’s Central European University (CEU) has benefited from an overwhelming demon­ stration of solidarity on the part of Hungarian civil society and supporters around the globe. On behalf of the CEU ASA team and the entire university community, I would like to express my gratitude for the support we have received from the Allianz Cultural Foundation, the ASA Alumni Catalonia and the Rising Council and partner universities and individuals around the world. by Constanze Jeitler (ASA 2017)

Wave of Nationalism Last April, the Hungarian government, led by As tens of thousands of people took to the For CEU, the outcome of the legal limbo Viktor Orbán, introduced legislation that streets of Budapest last spring to protest for a could be to move west. The university would shook the country and the rest of Europe. A “free country and free education,” they carried follow in the footsteps of so many Hungari- “Franco’s regime continues.” “Freedom for Catalonia.” These are the phrases scrawled in Catalan across new higher education law was introduced to EU flags and called for help from Brussels. ans who have left their country in the past few buildings and walls in the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona’s center. The October 1 referendum on Catalonia’s parliament, and passed and signed by the Meanwhile in Brussels, the EPP has not given years to look for opportunities and more president within days. The new law requires Orbán much more than a slap on the wrist. open societies. CEU will survive and contin- status has fueled a contentious battle for independence between the Catalan and Spanish governments. foreign universities operating in Hungary to While party officials stressed the importance ue its tradition of excellence, but it will not Considered a national issue, the international community has been hesitant to interfere or comment on maintain a campus in their country of origin of academic freedom in an official statement, have achieved its vision of supporting demo- the situation. Although Spain is dealing with these events on a national level, the crisis is in some ways and have a bilateral agreement between the the group did not dare to launch any internal cratic transitions in post-socialist countries. a microcosm of the EU’s continued fracturing on the supranational level. These secessionist movements home and host country. CEU has made every sanctions against Fidesz. Similarly, Europe will have lost the fight effort to comply with the law and a bilateral against illiberalism in Hungary, the home of within Member States will only continue to hurt European integration. by Michele MacMillan (ASA 2017) agreement between the governments of New some of its fiercest supporters. York state and Hungary has been prepared While the government is and stands ready to be signed. However, as running a strong anti-EU Catalan identity is deeply complex and diffi- that day, the Spanish government sent the na- domino effect, causing problems for other Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government cult for outsiders to understand. Catalonia has tional police to confiscate ballot boxes and Member States. Catalonia’s movement could refuses to sign it, CEU is poised to become in- campaign, the Hungarian long pushed for independence, but in previ- shut down polling stations. Violence that fuel other independence movements in re- strumentalized by the ruling Fidesz party’s public remains enthusiastic ous referendums voted to be a part of Spain. erupted as a result of the confrontation left gions such as Lombardy and Sicily in Italy, 2018 electoral campaign that will focus on about the European project Although the Statute of Autonomy of Catalo- more than 1,000 civilians injured. Flanders in Belgium or Scotland in the United anti-EU sentiments and values. nia was approved in 1979, it was not until Kingdom. It is important that the EU does not 2006 that the statute was revised and autono- Poll results showed that 90 percent voted in fa- support Catalan independence, to its own While the government is running a strong This isolationist and illiberal turn is not my expanded. Over time, this expansion has vor of independence, though voter turnout was political­ advantage. anti-EU campaign, the Hungarian public re- unique to Hungary, and can be found in many not been enough, and the Catalan govern- only 43 percent. It is important to consider mains enthusiastic about the European proj- parts of Europe, where civil society actors are ment has pushed amendments to allow for those who did not cast their vote because the This rise of nationalism in Catalonia mirrors ect. For many Hungarians, integration into becoming increasingly marginalized. For me greater powers of autonomy. The Spanish referendum had been declared illegal or they the rise of nationalist movements in other EU the Union was supposed to overcome the di- personally, the CEU crisis, more than any pre- government has settled into a precarious posi- were simply afraid to go to a polling station in Member States such as Hungary and Poland. vide between Eastern and Western value sys- vious event, clearly demonstrates that the val- tion of trying to keep the region within the the midst of violence. The voices of these peo- Populist governments are gaining power among tems after the end of communism. They look ues of an open society, democracy and human federal state while retaining some control. ple are absent from the referendum. The inter- dissatisfied groups in countries or regions to Brussels as a guardian of values such as de- rights are vulnerable to contestation and can national community and the EU condemn the throughout Europe. While the Catalans are not mocracy, human rights and the rule of law. be taken away – even on the EU’s watch. Re- 1-O Spanish government for its aggressive and vio- oppressed or rendered stateless like the Rohing- But time and time again, the European Peo- gardless of whether we grew up in Eastern or On September 6, the Catalan parliament vot- lent actions on voting day, but have done little ya population in Myanmar, their long-brewing ple’s Party (EPP), of which Fidesz is a mem- Western Europe, my generation has profited ed at the last minute to hold a referendum for to support the Catalan government. grievances have helped fuel a stronger sense of ber, has protected the Hungarian leader from immensely from former socialist countries’ independence. Spain’s constitutional court Catalonian identity. It is important for the sanctions and continues to do so. Since the accession to the EU and deeper EU integra- declared the move illegal, but those in favor of The EU’s role Spanish government and the EU to acknowl- start of his second term in office (2010), tion. But now, many feel that the EU has left independence still showed up on October 1 to The EU must tread carefully in this situation. edge these wrongs; otherwise, an already fragile Orbán has been able to transform Hungary us and its values out in the rain, widening the Activists support Central European University in vote in a referendum now known as 1-O. On One secessionist movement could set off a European Union runs the risk of splintering. into an illiberal state, undisturbed by Brussels. divide between the EU and its citizens. ­Budapest’s Heroes’ Square.

10 11 European Developments Reflections Harnessing Ukraine’s Potential

On July 11, 2017, police blocked off the main square of Maidan in the center of Kiev to celebrate the long-awaited visa-free travel agreement between the government of Ukraine and the European Union. The agreement allows for Ukrainians to enter and exit the Schengen Zone visa-free for up to 90 days for the purpose of travel, family and business. Despite this progress, the European Union has been slow to take action in bringing Ukraine closer through its neighborhood policy. by Michele MacMillan (ASA 2017)

After the events of the 2014 revolution that in some cases, has taken steps backward. The government structures to allow for the cre- culminated in President Yanukovych’s depar- EU plays a key role in supporting Ukraine in ation of new consolidated territories governed ture, Ukraine began a governmental transi- strengthening transparency and government by smaller groups. These local groups are to tion. That transition has seen elections, a new capacity-building. Decentralization, anti-cor- have more say in terms of determining which anti-corruption body, a fresh judiciary and a ruption, and civil society support are the three areas can join their territory and in leveraging series of recent reforms. As a result, decentral- central areas that the EU must support in collective resources. The EU is promoting its ization and corruption have emerged as two ­advancing Ukraine’s development. own decentralization initiative in Ukraine with hot-button issues in ushering in the country’s U-LEAD (Local Empowerment, Accountabil- transition to a new government infrastruc- Complex decentralization ity and Development Program). The project ture. As highly politicized issues, the govern- The complex goal of decentralization in has already been awarded €102 million by var- Demonstrators protest in Ukraine. ment has made little headway on either and, Ukraine is to undo former regional and local ious EU Member States, with implementation overseen by the German and Swedish develop- ment agencies. This does specify EU Member great potential in tackling corruption, recent ment to ensure these reforms remain a prior- er shops. Kiev is abuzz with potential as grow- States funds allocated to international organi- presidential and parliamentary actions to un- ity. Ukrainian civil society sees reforms as a ing numbers of young people sip cocktails on zations like the United Nations Development dermine NABU are worrying. Just in the last stepping stone to its fiercely defended future rooftop bars. Ukrainians, younger generations Program (UNDP) to assist with the efforts on six months, parliament has granted six mem- of greater European integration. It is impor- in particular, are keenly aware of the slippery the ground. However, results have been under- bers of parliament immunity from corruption tant that the EU continues to support these slope their government is on, and are reticent whelming, despite significant support for the charges and there have been continued delays bottom-up efforts to question government to lose ground in securing a better life. And project from both EU Member States and in establishing an independent High Anti- complacency. they are looking to the EU for inspiration. ­international organizations. Ukraine must corruption Court of Ukraine and selecting now grapple with the continued parallel pres- new judges to replace those in violation of Getting serious ence of an archaic government structure and ethical standards. This turn of events should With national elections scheduled for 2019, With national elections several local and regional government officials be noted by the EU and those looking to there are signs that the government is seeking scheduled for 2019, with limited experience in integrating them- Ukraine as the new Western beacon of the to consolidate its power. The Ukrainian gov- selves and their work into a new system. The Eastern Bloc. ernment is headed back down the road from there are signs that the vision of decentralization is beautiful, but its which it came, and the EU needs to do some- government is seeking execution has been sloppy at best. Activism will save Ukraine thing about it. It is important for the EU to not to consolidate its power The EU alone cannot save Ukraine. Ukrainian just assist in anti-corruption and development The Ukrainian government’s u-turn civil society has rapidly expanded and devel- projects, but also to hold the president and As a hot-button buzzword issue in Ukraine, oped mechanisms to hold the government ac- parliament accountable for their lack of action. Reforms are not an easy task in a country that the term “anti-corruption” often elicits wea- countable. The Reanimation Package of Re- has 27 regions, a frozen conflict and a territory ried glances among locals. Yet the persistent forms (RPR), for example, is the largest To be sure, the progress made should not go occupied by Russia. The EU should remain focus on the issue has resulted in the estab- coalition of NGOs and experts from all over unacknowledged. The country has managed firm in its stance towards the government’s lishment of an anti-corruption agency, the Ukraine and facilitates the implementation of to overhaul its medical system, diversify its en- lackluster reform efforts but continue to re- National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine nine major reforms. Their strategy is to con- ergy sector and stabilize the economy. Entre- ward Ukraine for the steps forward it does (NABU). As an independent authority, NABU solidate public interest and effort, while hold- preneurship is thriving, and the tech industry take. The EU’s top-down support, coupled can prosecute high-ranking politicians and ing the government accountable to post-­ is gaining traction. Increasingly vibrant, many with a grassroots sponsorship of civil society, review judges slated to join the new judiciary Euromaidan reforms. These groups conduct cities are cultivating an arts scene with young might be what is needed to bring Ukraine to Maidan Square in Kiev, Ukraine body. Although NABU has demonstrated rallies, sign petitions and lobby the govern- Ukrainians pushing for chic cafes and design- turn westward once again.

12 13 Reflections Reflections The Alumni Magazine Reaches Its Tenth Issue

The magazine you hold is the ten-year-old brainchild of a team of early ASA alumni who wanted a platform to voice their ideas. As the magazine reaches double digits, a look back at its history. by Patience Haggin (ASA 2013)

The idea for an ASA alumni magazine was Noelle, Robert B. Laughlin, Harold James, has also published a broad spectrum of opin- born at the first Allianz Alumni Academy, held Wolfgang Ischinger, Timothy Garton Ash, ions in alumni editorials on topics from cli- in Brussels in 2007. The process was put in mo- Christina Weiss, Ilma Rakusa, Fabrizio Gatti, mate accords to EU visa restrictions. Its pages tion when four alumni – Andreas Lorek ASA Dirk Snauwaert and Elena Filipovic. are open to any alumni seeking a platform to 2005, Dana Manescu ASA 2005, Ségolène share ideas. ­Pruvot ASA 2006 and Mare van den Eeden “I saw it as a chance to get in touch with these ASA 2006 – combined their diverse profes- high-profile people,” said Andreas, who has Including this anniversary issue, the publica- sional experience in conceptualizing the maga- been involved in journalism since the age of 10, tion has produced ten issues so far, focusing on zine. Published in 2009, the magazine’s inaugu- when he launched a magazine for his home- subjects like migration, the Arab Spring, inter- ral issue featured the title U(net)Work4Europe. town of Freiburg, Germany in his leisure time national security issues, European prosperity after school. “It was not new for me to conduct and democracy. The editorial team has gath- The first four issues were produced in-house interviews, but it was new for me to talk to ered for two training sessions taught by profes- at the Allianz Cultural Foundation. Andreas sional journalists – one in Milan in 2009, and designed the magazine’s layout himself. The magazine has played one in Berlin in 2016. host to some avant-garde “The first name was something we came up It has featured first-person accounts from with spontaneously that we liked, but it was proposals alumni who have shared their fascinating ex- very long and not very handy,” Andreas said. periences, like Sara-Sumie Yang, who worked Later, Nad’a Kovalcˇíková (ASA 2009), as the prominent individuals from the business, cul- as an executive assistant to a German ambas- magazine’s editor and concept manager, came tural or political worlds. It is always rewarding sador (ASA 2006) or Agata Jaskot, who visited up with a new clever name: ASA European, to gain insight into their careers, to have the Minsk, Belarus, with her College of Europe and an editorial agency helped the team design opportunity to ask probing questions and get classmates (ASA 2008). It has also featured it with a new layout. The new concept was responses that allow one to get to know them.” more artistically inclined contributions, like launched with the fifth issue in July 2013. Mara-Daria Cojocaru’s “Eutopia” essay on why The magazine has also played host to some we study the city (ASA 2004) and Ioana An- Today, Tempus Corporate, the corporate pub- avant-garde proposals. Its first issue featured dreescu’s fictional vignettes set at the French lishing arm of the German weekly Die Zeit, an essay predicting “The End of Capitalism” National Library (ASA 2009). where Andreas worked, has taken on layout and illustrated with minimalist sketches. The sec- production responsibilities for the magazine. ond issue featured a proposal to have Euro- The ASA alumni magazine has provided a pean and North American powers finance the platform for ideas creative and technical, nov- The magazine has provided its alumni authors construction of a string of “charter cities” el and traditional, concrete and aspirational. the opportunity to meet high-profile individu- along the coast of sub-Saharan Africa designed Saluting ten years of the magazine’s existence, als. Its pages have featured interviews with to foster development in the region and stem the editorial board looks forward to the con- such influential figures as Henning Schulte- the outward flows of migration. The magazine tributions to come!

14 15 Internal Affairs Internal Affairs

International Project Education for a Europe of Rights (EER)

The project on human rights education (understood broadly as including education for ­democr­ acy, democratic citizenship and European values) was designed and implem­ented in 2017 by our team, colleagues and partners. The ASA alumni team included Antal Berkes (ASA 2009), ­Diana Grebles (ASA 2008), Nadʼa Kovalcˇíková (ASA 2009), Adrienn Nyircsák (ASA 2013), Max Steuer (ASA 2015) and Elona Xhaferri (ASA 2009). The EER ­project focused on two major events: a workshop held within the framework of the April 2017 state round of the Slovak Human Rights Olympics in Modra (Slovakia), and an international symposium held in December 2017 at the Central European ­University in Budapest (Hung­ ary). Both pointed to the need to bring human­ rights education to the

­center of debates on educ­ ation policy. by Antal Berkes (ASA 2009), Diana Grebles (ASA 2008), Max Steuer (ASA 2015) Students, teachers, academics and policymakers attended Education for a Europe of Rights’ second event in Budapest in December 2017.

Thanks to the support of the ACF Jackpot Project A formalist approach to human rights individual civics, history or literature educator, they were equipped with tools for initiating framework, we had the pleasure to work on this ­education prevails secondary school students rarely enjoy the and implementing such activities in their project with the Human Rights Initiative, the Discussions regarding human rights education benefits of a participatory and stimulating home environments. Allianz Summer Academy coordinators of the policy identified both best practices and short- learning environment in courses teaching hu- Central European University, the Slovak Human comings in each country. Whereas best prac- man rights and the essentials of democracy. Altogether, more than 50 individuals partici- Rights Olympics and the UNESCO Chair for tices were found to be quite similar, shortcom- Instead, they are most often required to engage discussion and an exchange of views. Teachers pated in the two events. For some participants, Human Rights Education at the Comenius ings were found to vary, depending on lo­ cal in rote memorization without critical reflec- who follow these curricula face significant the events provided their first opportunity to University. actors in a particular state. During these dis- tion or analysis. In some cases, students are challenges in creating room for critical think- participate in a professional, policy-based dis- cussions, representatives of national and inter- ing and debate. Some state education pro- cussion, something that is rarely organized at Amid the rise of support in many countries for national institutes of education that play a role Where the formal education grams emphasize the need for comprehensive their schools (with initiatives such as the extreme political parties and demonstrated ef- in determining education curricula and for- personality development among pupils, in- ­Slovak Human Rights Olympics being an im- forts to manipulate facts, spread hoaxes and mats (Council of Europe, OSCE) as well as system does not provide cluding efforts to promote critical thinking. portant exception). promote demagoguery (often through new non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that for an appropriate human However, these needs are often not imple- media), education remains instrumental in act as a substitute for state services by provid- rights education, NGOs and mented in practice because most policymakers While a more detailed summary of outcomes preventing such activity from undermining ing additional training opportunities for international organizations lack the will to pursue comprehensive educa- is under preparation, the validity of one obser- democracies and standards of human rights teachers and students alike, contributed their tion reform. vation was made clear by all discussions. Hu- protection. Yet education is rarely a focus in firsthand experience in designing relevant often step in man rights education is certainly not the goal considerations of how to tackle the rise of policies and monitoring their implementation. Non-formal, peer-to-peer initiatives help, of all policymakers. Those who fear active, ­non-democratic political projects, even though Playing a major role in these discussions, explicitly discouraged from sharing their per- but cannot replace, formal education critical citizens informed of their human the younger generation (many of them first- ­students had the opportunity to present in sonal views on human rights and democracy- Where the formal education system does not rights and of the significance and mechanisms time voters) remains most vulnerable to the Secondary school students from four countries attended Modra their “ideal” human rights education related topics, which are perceived as a poten- provide for an appropriate human rights edu- of their protection, are unlikely to support a appeals made by these projects. Education for a Europe of Rights. curriculum and voice their view of human tial source of “politicization.” All too often, cation, NGOs and international organizations more comprehensive and promising human rights education during a separate session in debating politics and democracy is miscon- often step in. Some of the most successful ini- rights education policy. To address these shortcomings, the Education education, our project allowed for an in-depth Budapest. strued as incitement to spread ­propaganda for tiatives are non-formal and often based on for a Europe of Rights (EER) project envi- investigation of the state of human rights edu- a specific political party or ideology. activities that can be facilitated by more senior The remaining question is whether policy- sioned a setting in which education, in par- cation in each of the four countries and the Both these sessions highlighted the gap be- students. For this reason, both events of the makers who remain committed to demo­ ticular human rights education, is discussed challenges faced. In order to better involve the tween students’ first-hand educational experi- The structure of the curricula often leaves very EER project included the presentation and cracy – in the four EER countries and else- in a participatory context involving students. target group of first-time voters, the project ence and the official policies, strategies and little room for topics related most closely to sample activities of non-formal peer educa- where – will focus more on this policy area. Limiting the scope to four Central European included a selected group of students from guidelines of international organizations and human rights, is void of an interdisciplinary tion for human rights that allowed the stu- Given the growing needs in this area, any fail- countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ro- each of the four countries for each of the two the individual states. Though there are excep- approach and requires a vast number of ency- dents to familiarize themselves with the con- ure to do so will cast a shadow of doubt upon mania and Slovakia) and to secondary school events. tions, usually attributed to the efforts of an clopedic facts to be covered at the expense of cept and methods. By the end of the project, the sincerity of their commitment.

16 17 Internal Affairs Alumni Council

Dear ASA Alumni,

As we close the curtain on 2017, we look 1 Jackpot Projects 23 % back on a remarkable year filled with inspir- 33 % ing discussions with fellow alumni, a suc- Every year, the Allianz Cultural Foundation chooses various projects to cooperate with in developing cessful academy at Kempfenhausen, and new initatives. Requirements are simple and yet challenging: At least three alumni from either three several new Jackpot Projects. We are hum- 9 % bled by this community – and remain at ­different countries or different ASA generations must be involved in a project that focuses on European your service in the new year as we start plan- 12 % integration. In 2017, the following projects were awarded: 14 % ning for the 2018 Alumni Academy! 3 % 6 %

Academia Non-profit/NGO European Startup Initiative’s We also want to share a few results from this Other European Organization Private Sector Project Aeneas ­Startup Heatmap Education for a Europe of Rights year’s alumni survey that show just how in- Government by Anna Lászlo (ASA 2008) by Anna Lászlo (ASA 2008) by Patience Haggin (ASA 2013) credible you all are. A total 115 of 225 alum- International Organization ni around the world took time to fill in the This effort is to develop practical, empirically- Project Aeneas seeks to investigate how refu- The European Startup Initiative (ESI) is one of At a time when citizen confidence in demo- poll – that is five times the ­average response sound responses to help integrate refugees and gees can become entrepreneurs and, based on the longest-lasting projects of the ASA Alumni cratic institutions is ebbing, education may be rate. We found that: 2 22 % migrants, which was initiated across three gen- empirical analysis and program design, assess Network. Started in 2013, ESI aims to analyse the surest enduring means to preserve democ- erations of ASA alumni. The initiative was de- if doing so helps them to integrate into their where the European startup scene is evolving racy. This is the belief behind Education for a 3 % • Our community is international: 54 % 1 % veloped by alumni from Italy and the USA, communities. Specifically, the project aims to and which is the most attractive startup hub Europe of Rights, the Jackpot Project to The 115 alumni who ­responded live in 31 countries themselves privileged, voluntary migrants. offer entrepreneurial education programs and on the continent. Cities like London, Berlin or ­examine human rights education in Central on five continents, ­concentrated in a few spots: They seek to find ways to help bring far less evaluate their efficacy as a fundamental inter- Stockholm are viewed as the most innovative Europe. The six-alumni effort began with an 23 in ­Germany, 13 in the US, 10 in the UK, eight 15 % each in Belgium and Sweden, and seven in Italy. fortunate migrants into better circumstances. mediate step towards self-employment and spots for startups in Europe but the competi- April workshop at the Slovak Human Rights 6 % The project was named after Aeneas, one of resilience. tion is fierce. Choosing the best location for a Olympics and closed with a December con­ •  Our community works across sectors: the few Trojans not killed after the fall of Troy startup is key to both investors and founders. ference at Central European University in Bachelor Currently enrolled in A third work in the private sector, while 22% work Juris Doctor undergraduate studies who wandered the Mediterranean for years Fundamentally, Aeneas seeks to examine Therefore perception is crucial in the competi- ­Budapest. in academia, 12% in government, and around 10% LL.M Masters & M.Phil before finding a new home: a mythical refugee. whether entrepreneurial education has an im- tion between startup hubs as it has a great im- in European organizations (Figure 1). PhD or Doctorate pact on the long-term integration of refugees. pact on the choice. ESI is therefore mapping In keeping with the conference’s purpose, it

Forced migration to the EU is a new normal: Towards that end, its research methodology the perception of startup hubs in Europe – and focused on the students rather than the edu- • Our community is highly educated: 3 Your Allianz Summer Academy Class: demographic changes across the African con- draws on business management research, mi- how far their reputation reaches in the market. cators, and made student involvement a pri- 72% of alumni have gone on to receive graduate or higher ­degrees, including 18% who hold tinent, coupled with protracted fragile political gration and integration studies, and public ESI focuses on comparing the more estab- mary focus. An elite group of students from 24 ­doctorates. ­Almost all of every ASA ­cohort pursues contexts in the region ensure that immig­ ration policy. Ultimately, the initiative wants to help lished startup hubs like London or Berlin in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and 22 more ­schooling (Figure 2). Due to the Bologna 20 will continue to increase. Therefore, feasible others realize their own dreams in new societies their perception as well as new trendy places Slovakia spoke intelligently about what they ­Process the number of bachelor students taking 18 solutions for migrants to integrate into Euro- and, through doing so, become more recog- that desire to increase their impact on the map saw as a lack of concrete experience with par- part in the ­Allianz Summer Academy increased 16 ­explicitly ­(Figure 3). 14 pean societies are needed. The founding alum- nized and integrated into European contexts. of Startup Europe. ticipative education about human rights. 12 ni believe that a scientific approach to identify 10 solutions and present them to EU decision- Interested in joining the project? Get in contact The Startup Heatmap aims to visualize the A highlight of the event was a game that And, lastly, our community is excited to be 8 6 makers is vital. with alumnus Fabrizio Dell’Acqua. positive effects of competition among startup prompted students still in their teens to make together. A few of our favorite inspirational 4 hubs in Europe. By mapping the attractiveness compelling arguments and counter­arguments quotes from our ranks: 2

Number of Records Number of 0 of startup hubs in Europe, ESI uncovers rea­ on controversial topics like mandatory voting ASA ASA ASA ASA ASA ASA ASA ASA ASA lities of Startup Europe. The alumni involved and whether teachers should discuss politics “Thank you, great to see some of the initial 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

in the project believe that this provides a guide in the classroom. alumni activities I helped co-create are still PhD or Doctorate Masters Currently enrolled in for decision-makers and also community there: the Jackpot Projects, the magazine ... Juris Doctor M.Phil undergraduate studies members to make Europe a better place to The other stakeholders in attendance brought #proud and #grateful” LL.M Bachelor found companies.The heatmap shows which a diverse range of perspectives including cities are the hottest in Startup Europe, how far teachers, civil servants from national ins­ “ASA is an amazing project and very needed their reputation goes, if those cities are region- titutes of education, and an activist from in Europe. [I’m] happy to be part of it!” al or international hubs and why people move ­Hungary’s Independent Student Parliament. from their city/region of origin to establish a Many traveled long distances to participate. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to be plan- company. This helps build awareness of Start- ning the 2018 Alumni Academy in conjunc- up Europe’s potential, provides a reference to The conference closed with a new memoran- tion with ACF, and have new online initia- compare startup hotspots with other cities in dum on reforming human rights education tives in the pipeline. We look forward to Europe, fosters a debate on the topic and pro- in the four countries. The project was the seeing you there! If you have any ideas, or vides investors, startups and potential employ- work of six ASA alumni from five alumni just want to say hi, please write us at: ees a guide for decision-making. generations: Antal Berkes (ASA 2009), Diana [email protected]. www.start­upheatmap.eu Grebles (ASA 2008), Nad’a Kovalcˇíková Clockwise from upper left: Diana Grebles (ASA 2008), (ASA 2009), Adrienn Nyircsák (ASA 2013), Your Alumni Council Galen Lamphere-Englund (ASA 2015), Viviane Dittrich ASA alumni Diana Grebles, Max Steuer and Antal Berkes, along with Allianz Cultural Foundation Coordinator (ASA 2009), Harald Eisenhauer (ASA 2008), Anna Lena Lucia Obst at the “Education for a Europe of Rights” conference held at Central European University in Budapest in Interested in getting involved? Get in touch Max Steuer (ASA 2015), and Elona Xhaferri Anna Lena, Diana, Galen, Harald, Marie ­Hoh­mann (ASA 2015), Marie Pélissier-Combescure ­December 2017. with Thomas Kösters. (ASA 2009). and Viviane (ASA 2013)

18 19 Internal Affairs Internal Affairs Good Reads: What Alumni in Action

From receiving awards to securing work with the UN – Alumni are Reading here is an excerpt of what many of you have achieved in 2017. by Patience Haggin (ASA 2013)

Mikołaj Barczentewicz (ASA 2013) In fall 2017, Max Steuer (ASA 2015) The Euro and the Battle of No One’s Ways: started working as a lecturer in public law and has been a SYLFF fellow at the Örebro Univer- Ideas by Markus K. Brunner­ An Essay on Infinit­ e Naming legal theory at the University of Surrey School sity in Sweden. He presented a paper on the of Law in July 2017. His article “Miller, Statu- media perception of the EU in crisis in select- meier, Harold James & by Daniel ­Heller-Roazen — tory Interpretation, and the True Place of EU ed Central European countries and published — Jean-Pierre ­Landau March 2017 Law in UK Law” was published in the journal an article analyzing some of the dilemmas September 2016 An ambitious work of philo- Public Law in May. In December 2016, he was ­entailed in criminalizing Holocaust denial in This book, written by a Brit, sophical history that mean- engaged by the BBC to comment on the hear- democracies. a German and a Frenchman, ders from linguistics to ings in the Article 50 case Miller. frames the creation and ­crisis Hegel to Arabic thought, Dr. Sotirios Zartaloudis (ASA 2006) of the eurozone as a history while remaining eminently Patience Haggin (ASA 2013) published an article in the Journal of C­ ommon of intellectual currents. Brit- Die Hauptstadt (“The Capital”) readable and thought-pro- began studying literary translation at Univer- Live on air: Mikołaj Barczentewicz commented Market Studies titled, “Flexicurity between ain has traditio­nally served as — voking. Princeton professor sità degli studi di Napoli “L’Orientale” in from the Surpreme Court on the hearings in the Article ­Europeanization and Varieties of Capitalism? by Robert Menasse September 2017 50 case Miller. a counterweight between the Heller-Roazen begins with ­Naples, Italy as a Fulbright Scholar in Octo- A Comparative Analysis of Employment Pro- powerful France-Germany This satirical crime thriller the moment in Homer’s Odyssey when Odys- ber 2017. Dust, her translation of Adrián Bra- tection Reforms in Portugal and Greece” argu- couple that controls Europe’s economy. France focuses on EU bureaucrats seus outwits a Cyclops by calling himself “No vi’s 2007 novel La pelusa, was published in ing that the different labor market reforms adhered to laissez-faire ­liberalism, while Ger- and won the most presti- One,” and then courses through ideas of the November. before the crises can be explained by the coun- many showed a willingness for private-sector gious German-language lit- “non-man”– and even other negated terms like tries’ union structure and the existence of intervention – until they swapped sides after erary award this fall. Its Aus- “non-things” and “non-beings” throughout the Kasia Kubin (ASA 2004) policy ­entrepreneurs favoring reform. World War II. What will become of the balance trian author, a friend of the entire history of metaphysics. He ar­ gues that received the Polcul Foundation Award for Michele MacMillan (ASA 2017) now that Britain wants to take a step back with Allianz Cultural Foundation, the very concept of “non-being” essentially commitment to building civil society and cul- had the opportunity to intern with the United Nicolas Zahn (ASA 2013) Brexit? The authors argue the European Union spent four years doing re- shapes Western philosophy from the twelfth tural activism in Poland by co-founding the Nations Development Programme in Ukraine has been awarded the Mercator Fellowship on needs to prove it can use a crisis like Brexit as an search for the book in Brus- century onward. Foundation for Social Diversity, which pursues this summer. Her work focused on developing International Affairs and will be working with opportunity to strengthen the union, rather sels. The novel also offers up a political com- educational, research and advocacy work in a program for youth in conflict-affected areas organizations during the coming year on gain- than just barely hold it together. The Brit author mentary on Europe’s need to triumph over support of social integration and equality. She in eastern Ukraine. ing a better understanding for the digital trans- is Princeton professor and European Harold national egotism. Scientific Babel: The language of also joined the Editorial Board of Africa in formation of the public sector. To this end, he James, a friend of ASA. science from the fall of Latin to Words, a leading UK-based blog that focuses Andrew Sartorius (ASA 2013) spent several months in Paris working with the on cultural production and Africa. started his master’s degree at Johns Hopkins Digital Government Team at the OECD and the rise of English by Michael D.­ The Novel of the Century: ­The University School of Advanced International will move to Asia in spring 2018. Gordin — April 2015 At the Existentialist Cafe: ­Extraordinary Adventure of Studies in Washington D.C. in August 2017. This witty book traces the He is concentrating in Strategic Studies and Freedom, Being and Apricot Les Misérables by David Bellos — history of the scientific com- studying national security and defense policy. Cocktails by Sarah Bakewell — March 2017 munity’s lingua franca from February 2017 This history of Les Misé­rables the use of Latin in the medi- Lauren Schwartz (ASA 2013) This book on the Parisian and its reception celebrates eval and Renaissance period, interned at the Research Division on the generation of existentialists, Victor Hugo’s masterful 1862 through the rise of English Americas at the German Institute for Interna- led by Jean-Paul Sartre, plac- novel, one of the most mem- in the post-war era. As he tional and Security Affairs in summer 2017. es the reader in an imaginary orable international bestsell- takes us through construct- The Institute published “Some American Vot- cafe to eavesdrop on figures ers Europe has produced. ed languages offered up as “the language of ers are More Equal: Election Law As an Arena like Simone de ­Beauvoir and The book includes a scrupu- science” (such as Esperanto, Volapük and of Partisan Strategy,” a paper she co-wrote on Albert Camus. Bakewell, a lously documented narrative ­Interlingua), he makes fascinating a time when U.S. election law in German in September, and British librarian and non- of the business and publicity logistics behind these quixotic endeavors were taken seriously in English in October. fiction author interweaves intellectual history the novel’s initial publication, when it simul­ as the key to world peace as well as science. with biographies of these great philosophers, in taneously appeared – and promptly sold out – Finally, Princeton professor Gordin explains Arunabh Singh (ASA 2011) a style complete with humorous and personal in several different European countries. In how English won out during the Cold War began a new job as Director of Analytics and touches. The book offers revealing details gleaming, enthusiastic prose, Princeton profes- ­“language race” – when the USA and USSR Data Science at Springworks, an Internet-­of- about these philosophers as people, and even sor Bellos makes the case that this novel ob- militaries poured funding into machine trans- Things company focused on connected cars, in helps the reader understand the rise, influence sessed with social inequality speaks to the pres- lation research and privately-funded scientific Hot off the press: Patience Haggin’s first January 2018. In September 2017 he ran the Goal met: Arunabh Singh ran the Lidingöloppet, a 30 km and ebb of this school of thought. ent day. translation. ­translated novel. Lidingöloppet, a 30 km trail run in Stockholm. trail run in Stockholm.

20 21 Portrait of an Alumnus Portrait of an Alumnus

Unsurprisingly, London and Berlin took the Publication Details lead as the best hubs, followed by a second tier ASAEUROPEAN Connecting the Dots made up of Paris and Barcelona. But, more surprisingly, the heatmap has brought to light Publisher Allianz Cultural Foundation the five “challenger hubs” poised to become Pariser Platz 6 With one look at the Startup Heatmap, you can see how interconnected Europe’s tomorrow’s international hubs: Amsterdam, 10117 Berlin/Germany ­entrepreneurial ecosystem is. A lattice of neon arches shows how freely talent and Dublin, Stockholm, Lisbon and Munich. Tel: +49 30 2091 5731-30 ­Remarkably, founders said they were more Fax: +49 30 2091 5731-40 ­capital move throughout the continent. Strengthening and nurturing that network E-Mail: [email protected] likely to move to these cities than they are to has been the focus of Thomas Kösters’ career. by Patience Haggin (ASA 2013) the top four established hubs. Managing Director Michael M. Thoss

Editor-in-Chief Patience Haggin But where does Thomas, the leader of research Editorial Team Ioana Andreescu, Stephanie on European startup hubs, live? Trento, an Carstensen, Nadʼa Kovalc­ˇíková, Anna Lászlo, Michele MacMillan, Nicolas Zahn ­Alpine village of about 100,000 in northern Authors Antal Berkes, Diana Grebles, Italy. Thomas Kösters works for EIT Digital, bringing digital Constanze Jeitler, Max Steuer transformation to Europe.

It may seem ironic, but it is entirely consistent Publishing Company with his research. Thomas works in Trento to do with his current work on startups. Unlike TEMPUS CORPORATE – address Europe’s migration imbalances: As an some ­Europeans, he does not believe Europe Ein Unternehmen des ZEIT Verlags Alt-Moabit 94 international outreach lead for EIT Digital, an should try to copy Silicon Valley’s startup eco- 10559 Berlin agency that works to bring digital transforma- system. tion to Europe, he works to encourage startup Management Board Jan Hawerkamp Editorial Manager Kathleen Ziemann development in the Baltics and the Southern “For our thinking, we look at the European Text Editor Barbara Serfozo Mediterranean – precisely the regions his re- startup ecosystem as unique. We basically look Picture Editor Beatrice Jansen port shows suffer the greatest outflow of entre- to Silicon Valley to understand what it’s not. It Graphic Design Susanne Kluge preneurs. Italy loses a startling 29 percent of its wouldn’t matter if Silicon Valley never existed. Proofreader Lisa Wicklund startups to migration. We would do the same research,” he explained. Photo Credits Cover: Stocksy/Dina Lun; p. 2 Kurt Since graduation, he has focused his efforts on Kaindl, Dareen Abbas, Kiron Student Magazine; p. 3 Jason Doiy Photography, Bernhard Ludewig (5), “Trento is a knowledge hub in Italy, and that Daniel Vegel; p. 4 Getty Images/John Lund; makes a lot of sense to include in a network In Europe, it makes a lot p. 5 OECD; p. 6 Bjartur, J.B. Metzler, Rayo Verde (2); like this. In Europe, it makes a lot of sense to p. 7 Getty Images/Hector Guerrero/Bloomberg; of sense to connect larger p. 8 CC BY-SA 3.0; p. 9 Screenshot YouTube; p. 10 connect larger and smaller networks,” Thomas iStock/Myriam López Blanco; p. 11 Picture Alliance/ said. and smaller networks Zoltan Balogh/MTI via AP; p. 12 Shutterstock/Lex Shi; p. 13 Shutterstock/Drop of Light; p. 15 Allianz Cultural Foundation; p. 16, 17, 18 Stefan Roch; The heatmap has become well-known among the European startup ecosystem, working first p. 19 Robert Niedring; p. 20 Princeton Univers. Press, European entrepreneurs, and its data has been for Technische Universität München’s entre- Suhrkamp, Zone Books, Other Press (NY), Farrar, cited by the World Economic Forum’s blog, by preneurship center. Straus and Giroux, Univ of Chicago P, Oxford University Press, Basic Books, Knopf, Simon & news outlets like Politico, and in the annual Schuster; p. 21 Dalkey Archive Press, privat; European Tech Report issued by Atomico, one Political headwinds threaten to have con­ p. 22, 23 Thomas Kösters, Backcover: Wikipedia/CC of Europe’s top venture-capital firms. The ESI sequences for Europe’s startup ecosystem, BY-SA 3.0, iStock/mkos83, iStock/edella, iStock/ AlxeyPnferov, iStock/lrescigno changed its survey methodology, going from ­Thomas has warned. In the 2017 survey, 35 Production Dirk Woschei, DIE ZEIT Thomas Kösters shares results from Startup Heatmap Europe’s report onstage in Madrid. an open survey in 2016 to a smaller survey of percent of founders said Brexit has made Lon- Printers Merkur Druck GmbH, Norderstedt selected founders in the second year. Thomas don a less interesting startup location. And the Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted said the team finds validity in the fact that re- threat of Catalonian secession was cause for without the written permission of the publisher. The sults were very similar despite the different anxiety as well, as ESI research shows that Ma- publisher regrets that he cannot accept liability for methodology. drid and Barcelona need each other: Barcelona errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The articles contained in this For Thomas Kösters, Europe’s startup ecosys- Thomas, a 2011 ASA alumnus, was part of a their country of origin. Of these, 88 percent is Spain’s largest startup hub, but Madrid ranks publication reflect the author’s opinion and not the tem is all about cooperation. Developing it is team that conceived of the European Startup even moved to a different region of the conti- The project has about 20 contributors, includ- higher for access to capital and talent. views of the publisher or the editorial board. all about strengthening the connections. Initiative (ESI) at the 2014 Allianz Alumni nent. The UK and Ireland, the Nordics, Bene- ing about a half-dozen ASA alumni, and about Academy in Budapest. With an ACF Jackpot lux and Western ­Europe gain the most from 50 community partners. What advice does Thomas’s research hold for © February 2018 “In Silicon Valley, you have all your resources award the team held a conference in Berlin and this migration, while Mediterranean, Baltic European voters? He says it is about integra- concentrated in one location. You can basi- launched a blog. In 2016 it launched the heat- and Central Eastern European countries lose. Thomas graduated from Ludwig-Maximilians tion and striving to cultivate startups as a cally go across the street and find all the talent map, an interactive visualization compiled Universität München with a master’s in Poli- single market. “If we as Europe want to man- and investment you need to grow a global from an annual survey of founders. “It’s very interesting that we are really the only tics, Economics and Catholic Theology in age that well, we should build on the virtues Please find the digital version at champion,” Thomas explained. Europe’s eco- ones who ask founders the question, ‘where do 2012. He studied abroad at Georgetown Uni- we have – open borders, mobility, working bit.ly/ASAMagazine system, rather, is a network. “We view the Startup founders are far more mobile than you come from?’ No one knows where found- versity in Washington, D.C. and interned for together – and not fall back on nationalism,” ­European startup ecosystem as a connected most European citizens, the ESI survey found. ers come from. I think it’s very important to the European-American Business Council and Thomas said. “We will solve it as a continent ­system of several nodes that need to pull re- 21 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed for the put that aspect at the center of our attention,” New York German Consulate General. Still, he that cherishes the single market, cherishes sources from various locations.” 2017 Heatmap founded their company outside Thomas said. says his U.S. experience does not have much to entrepreneurship.”

22 23 Magazine of the Allianz Alumni Network XXX No. 10 Naples, Cultural

Wellspring by Patience Haggin (ASA 2013)

Naples, Italy has gotten a bit of a bad rap. You 2008, according to Eurostat data. While Eu- may have heard about its high unemploy- rope overall shows encouraging signs of re- ment, the Camorra crime syndicate, and the covery, Naples is emblematic of those cities or famous “trash crisis” that left piles of garbage regions that risk being left behind. on its streets a few years back. But Europe cannot give up on Italy’s “city of sun,” nor the One of the world’s oldest continuously inhab- rest of Southern Italy, which remains under- ited cities, Naples enjoyed its golden age in the developed. seventeenth century. At the time, Naples was Europe’s second largest city, following Paris, A widely-cited 2015 report by Svimez, an in- and, as the “city of 500 domes,” was celebrated dustry group that advocates for Southern Ita- as an arts and trade center, drawing visitors ly, highlights concerns that Southern Italy is from all over the world. Today, as a major port subject to “permanent underdevelopment.” of entry for refugees arriving from Africa, the Indeed, many of the statistics are dispiriting. city’s reputation as a metropolitan capital is Poverty in Southern Italy is currently at its growing even further. Integrating refugee highest levels ever. A staggering one in three populations into an already-struggling econ- Southern Italians live at risk of poverty. In Sic- omy is a tremendous challenge, but one that ily and Campania, the rate is above 40 percent. is crucial to the European project. By contrast, only 11 percent in Italy’s central and northern regions live at risk of poverty. Europe cannot give up on the cultural well- spring of Naples. Over the centuries, Naples To make matters worse, the South has been has survived plagues, wars, earthquakes and losing people for years. About 9,100 people crime, Promethean in its capacity to rise up left Naples in 2016, according to another and continue the struggle for progress. Svimez report. As population numbers across the South continue to shrink, Southern Italy Naples has been occupied by so many civili­ as a whole is increasingly marginalized within zations: Greek, Roman, Byzantine, German, the national discourse. To make matters Spanish and French. Today, as part of the worse, many of those who leave are also some ­European Union, it can prove key to the of the best-educated. Naples is home to Uni- continent’s­ success. versità degli studi di Napoli Federico II, one of the oldest academic institutions in the world and still one of Italy’s best. With strengths in engineering, medicine and the sciences, the university boasts graduates with the skills most essential to twenty-first century eco- nomic growth – and far too many of them leave the region.

But Europe, which has wisely invested in its top business hubs, cannot continue to neglect Naples and other cities grappling with similar problems. Regions like Southern Italy, as well as countries such as Greece, Spain and Ireland have seen GDP per capita drop sharply since

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