Professor Jacques Semelin (Sciences Po, Paris) presents a multifactorial analysis which can explain the survival of Jews in occupied France, without forgetting the dead. Professor Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony's College, Oxford) chairs. Between the French defeat in 1940 and liberation in 1944, the Nazis killed almost 80,000 of France's Jews, both French and foreign. Since that time, this tragedy has been well-documented. But there are other stories hidden within it--ones neglected by historians. In 1940, the Jewish population stood at 300,000. In other words, 75 per cent of France's Jews escaped extermination. While 45% of the Jews of Belgium perished, and in the Netherlands only 20% survived, close to 90% of Jewish French nationals outlived the war. The Nazis were determined to destroy the Jews across Europe, and the Vichy regime collaborated in their deportation from France. So what is the meaning of this French exception?In my talk, based on quantitative and qualitative data, I wish to shed light on this 'French enigma', painting a radically unfamiliar view of occupied France without minimizing antisemitism. I will present a multifactorial analysis which can explain the survival of Jews in occupied France, without forgetting the dead.Jacques Semelin is Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science at Sciences Po, CERI, CNRS, Paris, focusing on the Holocaust and mass violence, as well as civil resistance and rescue. He is the author of the classic Unarmed Against Hitler: Civilian Resistance in Europe, 1939–1945 (Praeger), and Purify and Destroy: The Political Uses of Massacre and Genocide (Hurst/Columbia University Press).This seminar originally took place on Tuesday 30th April at 5pm at the European Studies Centre

Professor Jacques Semelin (Sciences Po, Paris) presents a multifactorial analysis which can explain the survival of Jews in occupied France, without forgetting the dead. Professor Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony's College, Oxford) chairs. Between the French defeat in 1940 and liberation in 1944, the Nazis killed almost 80,000 of France's Jews, both French and foreign. Since that time, this tragedy has been well-documented. But there are other stories hidden within it--ones neglected by historians. In 1940, the Jewish population stood at 300,000. In other words, 75 per cent of France's Jews escaped extermination. While 45% of the Jews of Belgium perished, and in the Netherlands only 20% survived, close to 90% of Jewish French nationals outlived the war. The Nazis were determined to destroy the Jews across Europe, and the Vichy regime collaborated in their deportation from France. So what is the meaning of this French exception? In my talk, based on quantitative and qualitative data, I wish to shed light on this 'French enigma', painting a radically unfamiliar view of occupied France without minimizing antisemitism. I will present a multifactorial analysis which can explain the survival of Jews in occupied France, without forgetting the dead. Jacques Semelin is Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science at Sciences Po, CERI, CNRS, Paris, focusing on the Holocaust and mass violence, as well as civil resistance and rescue. He is the author of the classic Unarmed Against Hitler: Civilian Resistance in Europe, 1939–1945 (Praeger), and Purify and Destroy: The Political Uses of Massacre and Genocide (Hurst/Columbia University Press). This seminar originally took place on Tuesday 30th April at 5pm at the European Studies Centre

How and why did a large majority of Jews survive the Holocaust in France? 

Lecture with Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College). Respondent: Anand Menon (King’s College London) Convenors: Timothy Garton Ash and Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College). The event was co-sponsored by The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) and the Centre for International Studies at DPIR.

Exodus, Reckoning, Sacrifice: Three Meanings of Brexit 

Richard von Weizsåcker Lecture with Paul Nolte (Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow St Antony’s College), the chair is Paul Betts (St Antony's College).

Imaginary Invalids? Euro-Atlantic Populisms and the Crisis of Democracy 

ESC Lunchtime Seminar. A talk given by Robert Howse (NYU Law School), Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College)on 13th January 2017.

A new politics of globalization? Taking stock of what 2016 brought Europe and America 

Professor John Connelly (UC Berkeley) gives the 2016 Annual Kolakowski lecture for the Programme on Modern Poland. Chaired by Mikolaj Kunicki (St. Antony's College). "It's often said that Polish nationalism involved extremes: that it was immoderate in its passions, sacrifices, and demands for territory; that it made excessive claims upon the individual Pole; that it was extravagantly short-sighted and parochial but also intensely concerned with the welfare of humankind.  In direct contrast to nationalisms in Poland's neighborhood – Serb, Czech, Hungarian and others – I assess the truth of such claims, and ask where Poland fits in the New Europe. Just how strange is it really?" (Professor John Connelly)

2016 Kolakowski Lecture - What makes Poland special: Polish Nationalism in Comparative Context 

Prof Dariusz Stola, Director of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, gives a talk for the Programme on Modern Poland on 4th February 2015. Introduced by Professor Tim Garton Ash and Dr Mikolaj Kunicki.

One century, three Polands: the Second Republic, People’s Poland, and the Third Republic 

Colin Mayer (Peter Moores Professor of Management Studies, Saïd Business School) gives a seminar for the PEFM programme. Chaired by Adam Bennett (St Antony's College, Oxford).

Sustainable finance: Restoring confidence and stability in the financial system 

Speakers include: Ivo Banac (Yale University), Richard Crampton (St Edmund Hall, Oxford), Basil Gounaris (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Margaret Macmillan (St Antony’s College, Oxford), Eugene Rogan (St Antony’s College, Oxford) Convened by Othon Anastasakis (St Antony’s College, Oxford), David Madden (St Antony’s College, Oxford), Elizabeth Roberts (St Antony’s College, Oxford)

The past is never dead: Balkan legacies of the First World War part two 

Speakers include; Ivo Banac (Yale University), Richard Crampton (St Edmund Hall, Oxford), Basil Gounaris (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Margaret Macmillan (St Antony’s College, Oxford), Eugene Rogan (St Antony’s College, Oxford) Convened by Othon Anastasakis (St Antony’s College, Oxford), David Madden (St Antony’s College, Oxford), Elizabeth Roberts (St Antony’s College, Oxford)

The past is never dead: Balkan legacies of the First World War part one 

Ulrich Beck, University of Munich and LSE, delivers the 2014 Dahrendorf Lecture. Discussants: Kalypso Nicolaïdis ,St Antony’s College, Oxford, Lord David Hannay, Former UK Permanent Representative to the EU and UN. Convenor: Timothy Garton Ash (St Antony’s College, Oxford).

Ulrich Beck, University of Munich and LSE, delivers the 2014 Dahrendorf Lecture. Discussants: Kalypso Nicolaïdis ,St Antony’s College, Oxford, Lord David Hannay, Former UK Permanent Representative to the EU and UN. Convenor: Timothy Garton Ash (St Antony’s College, Oxford).

The Cosmopolitan Outlook: How the European Project can be Saved 

The European Studies Centre at St Antony's College is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of Europe. It has particular strengths in politics, history and international relations, but also brings together economists, sociologists, social anthropologists and students of culture. We see ourselves as a meeting place and intellectual laboratory for the whole community of those interested in European Studies at the University of Oxford.

Ashoka Mody, Princeton University gives a seminar for the PEFM programme. The discussant was David Vines, Balliol College, Oxford and the chair was Kalypso Nicolaïdis, St. Antony's College, Oxford.

A Schuman Compact for the Euro Area 

Kevin O'Rourke, Chichele Professor of Economic History, and Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, gives a seminar for the PEFM programme. The discussant was Othon Anastasa and the chair was Paul Betts, St. Antony's College, Oxford.

Political Extremism in the Interwar Period and its Economic Roots. 

Klaus Regling, European Stability Mechanism, gives a talk for the European Studies Centre seminar series on banking and the economic recession. Chaired by Max Watson, St Antony's College.

Restoring Confidence in the Euro Area. 

John Vickers, Warden of All Souls College, Oxford, gives a talk for the European Studies Centre seminar series on banking and the economic recession. Chaired by Max Watson, St Antony's College.

Banking Reform Five Years On. 

Sean Berrigan Director for Financial Stability and Monetary Affairs in DG ECFIN at the European Commission gives a seminar on the Euro crisis. Chaired by Max Watson of St Antony's College, Oxford.

The global and Euro area crises: Will next time be different? 

Dr Wolfgang Schäuble (German Federal Minister of Finance) delivers a lecture for the European Studies Centre, St Antony's College on 29th October 2012.

Europe: still a common vision? 

A lecture at the St Anthony's College Oxford, European Studies Centre, given by Professor's David Vines and Patricia Clavin chaired by Maxwell Watson on 28th November 2012.

Addressing the crisis in Europe and the global economy: Lessons from the 1920s and 1930s? 

Melina Mercouri

Spyros Mercouris delivers a lecture on 7 June 2012 at St Antony's College, University of Oxford. Mr Spyros Mercouris has been Honorary President of the Cultural Capitals and Cultural Months of Europe Network, member of the board of directors of Melina Mercouri foundation and special advisor to the kids of Guernica movement. He has organised innumerous cultural events, symposia and exhibitions of high impact all over the world as well as presented documentaries and lectures on television.   He is the brother of the legendary greek figure Melina Mercouri, (1920-1994) known as 'the last greek goddess', former  minister of culture in Greece and actress of international acclaim having won the award of best actress in Cannes film festival and been nominated for an academy award, three golden globe awards and two BAFTA awards. Melina Mercouri was the one who conceived and established the 'european capital of culture' institution. She was a strong political activist starting an international campaign during greek military junta despite two terrorist attempts and one assasination attempt against her in Genova and her being deprived of her greek citizenship and contributed to the re-establishment of democracy. She died in 1994 while being in her post as minister of culture and received a state funeral with Prime Minister Honours. Her day of death was announced by UNESCO as international day of culture.

Melina Mercouri's cultural activity and its continuation: Europe-economy and the power of culture 

Professor Ronald Dworkin, New York University, delivers the 2012 Ralf Dahrendorf Memorial Lecture, with response from Professor Sir Adam Roberts, President of the British Academy.

How Universal is Liberalism? 

Professor A C Grayling delivers the 2011 Ralf Dahrendorf Memorial Lecture, with responses by Charles Moore and Dr. Usama Hasan. Filmed on 10 June 2011.

Is Nothing Sacred? Free Speech and Religion 

European Studies Centre

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