Russia's invasion of Ukraine, political radicalization, the crisis of the U.S., the rise of China—these are global shocks that define our current moment.

But in Europe, it is commonly said, they have a particular meaning. Not only are they close at hand. They signify a particular type of shock, a "pivot in time" as Germany's Chancellor Scholz put it. They signify an awakening. They signify the "return of history."

Looking back to the 20th century, Adam Tooze will explore the recurring theme in European public debate of the "end" and "return" of history. 

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About the Speaker

Professor Adam Tooze (Columbia University) teaches and researches widely in the fields of 20th-century and contemporary history, and is interested in a range of themes in political, intellectual, and military history, across a canvas stretching from Europe across the Atlantic. He is the author of prize-winning books such as The Wages of Destruction (2006), The Deluge (2014), Crashed (2018), and Shutdown (2021). His latest book, Carbon: Climate Crisis and the Decline of the West, is forthcoming in February 2027.

About the Event

This event is hosted by the Institute for European Studies (IES), part of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. The IES Luigi Einaudi Distinguished Lecture is an annual event.