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Letter From the Director
The Institute of European Studies seeks to contribute to the enrichment of American
understanding of Europe, its peoples, development over time, and the challenges
it has faced in the past as well as those it confronts in the present. The primary
task of IES is to generate and disseminate distinguished scholarship through
individual and collective efforts, not only by scholars and students at Berkeley,
but also through interaction with our European counterparts. As the University's
central institution for the study of Europe, IES brings disciplines together
to create new cross-disciplinary perceptions and understandings of issues pertaining
to both Europe itself and also to the nations of which Europe is constituted.
The Institute's goals are three-fold:
- To stimulate, initiate, facilitate, and finance research and education in
European studies at Berkeley and throughout the state of California
- To disseminate research findings to the broader community of scholars, citizens
and younger students in the United States and abroad
- To provide a community for students and faculty who share a European focus
to their work.
To achieve these ends, the Institute sponsors faculty and graduate student research
on Europe, focusing on thematic areas and current issues. In order to disseminate
research, the institute, along with the various programs under its umbrella,
initiates and sponsors conferences, colloquia, workshops and lectures; maintains
a "working paper" series to distribute research results; and brings
together European and American scholars in order to encourage the current exchange
of ideas and promote future collaboration.
The institute also maintains a fellowship program to support the training and
nurture the research of young scholars, including undergraduate and graduate
students as well as students of professional schools. The institute also provides
funds for faculty to develop new courses in a variety of disciplines, favoring
innovative approaches to the study of Europe and European languages. Indeed,
IES serves as a "hub" for the coordination and integration of all of
the diverse educational resources on Europe throughout the UC system.
Finally, in order to create a diversified forum of exchange -- one that extends
beyond the borders of the academy and embraces the community -- and to promote
cultural ties with governments and peoples of Europe, IES maintains a robust
community outreach program.
This is an exciting time for European studies. The advent of the Euro; the creation
of the European Union constitution and impending enlargement of this constitution;
transatlantic tensions; a growing EU interest in Asia; dramatic changes in the
European welfare state; growing problems of immigration and cultural diversity
in Europe; and many more events and issues have provided foci for IES-sponsored
programs and events. This report provides an overview of those activities.
In closing, I would like to express my thanks to Professor Barry
Eichengreen,
who served as the Acting Director during the period covered by this report. In
addition to presiding over the many activities listed here, Professor Eichengreen
raised funding for IES programs, launched the European Studies Luncheon Colloquium,
invited new members to serve on the IES executive and steering committees, and
much more, as this report indicates. We are deeply grateful to him for the fresh
thinking and new programs he brought to IES.
Sincerely,
Gerald D. Feldman
Director |
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