Nine Chestnut Hill College students recently traveled to Haverford to listen to a talk by Dr. Jeremy Black, a historian and an author from the University of Exeter, who discussed the political tumult currently affecting Europe and beyond.

The talk, entitled “Europe: A Continent in Turmoil,” was held on Oct. 16 at Merion Cricket Club. It was hosted by the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan Philadelphia-based organization “dedicated to bringing the insights of scholarship to bear on the development of policies that advance U.S. national interest.” The College’s European Union and European Studies minor sponsored the event and provided transportation costs and dinner.

The students were joined at the event by Jacqueline C. Reich, Ph.D., an associate professor of political science and the coordinator of the political science and global affairs majors at the College.

“The students loved the talk,” Reich said. “I could not have been prouder of the maturity and professionalism exhibited by the students at the event.”

In his talk, Black analyzed Europe’s political climate and numerous global issues. Among the topics he explored were the rise of nationalism, the return of authoritarianism, the debate on immigration and borders, the controversy surrounding Brexit, the threat posed by Russia, and President Donald Trump’s challenges to traditional institutions, such as the European Union (EU) and NATO. Black has authored more than 100 books on military and diplomatic history.

The European Union and European Studies minor was funded by a Title VI grant from the Department of Education. The grant was awarded to Chestnut Hill College with the goal of funding programs and activities and raising awareness about European studies and the EU.

For more information, please visit www.chc.edu/global/undergraduate/global-academic-offerings