Challenges in Political Sociology: Europe and Civil Society in an Age of Populism

This symposium will gather experts to reflect on themes central to the work of Prof. Carlo Ruzza: civil society and populism vis-a-vis Europe and its Union and the discipline of political sociology. As the European Union has grown and confronted various challenges and moments of crisis, civil society groups have been an essential force in shaping the EU agenda, challenging its decisions, driving the direction of European integration, and indeed in shaping the institutions of the EU as we know it today. In more recent years, the rise of populism in Europe has presented many challenges, not least to the relationships between civil society groups and the European Union at all levels. Both civil society and populism have in turn been shaped by the financial crisis, the rise of migration to the EU, the climate crisis and most recently conflict in Europe – and civil society and populist forces have sought to shape reactions to these. These themes have also been central to the consolidation of the discipline of European political sociology – in no small part due to Carlo’s work.
Three roundtable discussions will gather academics and representatives of European institutions to reflect on these interlinked and complex themes.

Morning Session 09.00-12.00

09.00 – 10.00 
Welcome from Stefano Schiavo, Director of the School of International Studies 

Keynote opening speech by Carlo Ruzza 

10.30 -12.00 
ROUNDTABLE DEBATE: THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CIVIL SOCIETY 
Moderator: Louisa Parks 
Contributors: Paul Blokker, Marco Dani, Rosa Sanchez-Salgado (online), Roberto Scaramuzzino, Jens Woelk

Afternoon Session 14.00-18.30

14.00 -15.30 
Welcome to the afternoon session by Giuseppe Sciortino, Director of the Dpt. of Sociology and Social Research

14.00 -15.30 
ROUNDTABLE DEBATE: POPULISM AND THE EUROPEAN UNION 
Moderator: Carlo Berti 
Contributors: Manuela Caiani, Paolo Carta, Michal Krzyzanowski, Enzo Loner, Oscar Mazzoleni, Thomas C. Ertman

16.00 - 17.30 
ROUNDTABLE DEBATE: THE PAST AND FUTURE OF EUROPEAN POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY 
Moderator: Alberta Giorgi 
Contributors: Pauline Cullen (online), Håkan Johansson (online), Sergio Marotta (online), Flaminia Saccà (online), Hans-Joerg Trenz, Lorenzo Viviani (online)

17.30 – 18.30 
Concluding reflections
Helena Flam, Luisa Antoniolli

The event is co-financed by the Grant PRIN 2017 'Populism and Anti-Populism in EU Institutions' - Project Code 2017 JEZ4NP.