At the peak of the Eurozone crisis in fall of 2011, German Chancellor Angela Merkel contended that “if the Euro fails, Europe fails.” Diverging national interests and diverse concepts in solving the current crisis challenge the future of the European project. What is the significance of the crisis for the process of European integration?  How can Europe best cope with the crisis?

On April 19-20, speakers from both sides of the Atlantic will address key features of the current crisis and discuss future challenges as Deutsches Haus at New York University presents the Max Weber Chair Conference 2012, “Confronting the Global Crisis: The Role of Europe.” The two-day event will be held at Deutsches Haus, located at 42 Washington Mews (at the corner of University Place), New York, N.Y. It begins on Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m., and resumes on Friday, April 20 starting at 10 a.m.

The conference, which will explore key issues such as the fate of economic governance, the growing diversity within European societies, and relations of Europe to other parts of the world, opens with an address by the EU ambassador to the United Nations, Thomas Mayr-Harting, followed by a keynote speech by historian Charles S. Maier. Panels will address transnational governance (Peter A. Hall, Damian Chalmers), diversity in societies (Erik Bleich, Martin Schain), and external relations (Jutta Joachim, Holger Moroff).

The Max Weber Chair Conference 2012 is made possible by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Center for European and Mediterranean Studies (C.E.M.S.) and DeutschesHaus at New York University. Attendance is free. For further details, please send an email to mfc331@nyu.edu.