Jean Monnet Chair on

European Union Public Diplomacy

Professor Christos Frangonikolopoulos

The National and European Context

During the last decade, the European Union is often misunderstood and seen in negative terms. The crisis of the Eurozone, the refugee crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbated the criticism on the usefulness of European integration, contributing to the development of a significant gap between what the EU has accomplished and how the wider public, internally and externally perceives it.

Across the Greek (and not only) political, diplomatic and media community, awareness of the concepts, aspects and prospects of EUPD remains limited. In fact, given that most of the complex and interlinked crises that trouble the EU have not been resolved, the EU and its members are not only characterized by fragmentation, distrust, increased divergence, social and political cleavages, but also by the inability to fairly balance national interests and frustration with today’s Union.

Jean Monnet Chair on

European Union Public Diplomacy

Bearing that in mind, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with the award to Professor Christos Frangonikolopoulos of the Chair on European Union Public Diplomacy, has launched a teaching and research programme that explores and identifies how to use Public diplomacy for increasing connections and shaping perceptions in and outside EU.

The Chair is addressed mainly to the undergraduate and postgraduate programs of the School but is also open to the students of other Departments of the University.

Τhe Chair focuses not only focus on theoretical issues or descriptive accounts of EUPD, but also pays attention to practical issues and skills that are in short supply in Greece (as well as in other member states). Through publications, workshops, seminars and conferences, the Chair brings together students, academics, journalists and civil society representatives to:

Investigate the role of the media and civil society in contemporary and future EUPD
Discuss and explore how to reshape EUPD through regular and informed public dialogue
Explore how EUPD can invest in analysis, synthesis and dissemination by creating hubs for discussion, argumentation, counter-argumentation and feedback
Develop a reflective process that helps to understand the shortcomings and deficiencies of EU policies
Explore how PD can be expanded to become the means for the improvement of the EU’s domestic and foreign policies

About Jean Monnet Chair on European Union Public Diplomacy

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with the award to Professor Christos Frangonikolopoulos of the Chair on European Union Public Diplomacy, has launched a teaching and research programme that explores and identifies how to use Public diplomacy for increasing connections and shaping perceptions in and outside EU.

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About Jean Monnet Chair
Christos Frangonikolopoulos
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Contact

Christos A. Frangonikolopoulos
Professor of International Relations
School of Journalism and Mass Communications

email: chfragk@jour.auth.gr

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