Transatlantic Ties and Opportunities in a Transformative Age

Texas Global is pleased to host a joint symposium bringing together leading scholars, institutional partners, and experts from the UT Austin and France to explore the evolving dynamics of transatlantic relations in a rapidly shifting global landscape.

As the United States and Europe continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, they are faced with a range of pressing global developments: renewed geopolitical tensions, the accelerating impacts of climate change, the digital transformation of societies and economies, and shifting dynamics of global power. These complex and interrelated trends have reshaped transatlantic relations, opening new avenues for cooperation while uncovering areas of divergence. This event offers a platform for intellectual exchange on critical themes—diplomacy, trade, political institutions, and strategic alliances—through a multidisciplinary lens, fostering academic exchange and institutional collaboration at a time of global transformation.

Event Details

Registration

This event is free and open to the public but space is limited. Faculty and students are encouraged to attend.

Register Here

Schedule Overview

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Time	Event
8-9 a.m.	Registration
9-9:30 a.m.	Welcome Remarks Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost of Global Engagement and Chief International Officer, UT Austin
9:30-10:45 a.m.	Panel: The History of Transatlantic Relations Dr. Isabelle Vagnoux, Professor of American Civilization, Laboratoire d'Études et de Recherche sur le Monde Anglophone (LERMA), Aix-Marseille Université Dr. Mark Lawrence, Professor of History and Walter Prescott Webb Chair, Department of History, UT Austin   Moderator: Dr. Michael Anderson, Director, International Relations and Global Studies Program, UT Austin
10:45-11 a.m.	Coffee Break
11-12:15 p.m.	Panel: Transatlantic Trade and Political Economy Dr. Jean-Baptiste Velut, Professor of American Politics, Center for Research on the English-speaking World (CREW), Université Sorbonne Nouvelle Dr. Rachel Wellhausen, Associate Professor, Department of Government, UT Austin Moderator: Dr. Christopher Wlezien, Hogg Professor of Government, Department of Government, UT Austin
12:15-1:30 p.m.	Networking Lunch
1:30-2:45 p.m.	Panel: Elections and Party Politics Across the Atlantic Dr. Elisa Chelle, Professor of Political Science, Institut des Sciences Sociales du Politique (ISP), Université Paris-Nanterre Dr. Zeynep Somer-Topcu, Associate Professor, Department of Government, UT Austin Moderator: Dr. Alison Craig, Associate Professor, Department of Government, UT Austin
2:45-3 p.m.	Coffee Break
3-4:15 p.m.	Student Roundtable Discussion: Perspectives on Transatlantic Cooperation
4:15-4:30 p.m.	Concluding Remarks Dr. Charles Joseph, Associate Professor of U.S. Cultural Studies, Le Mans Université; Board Member representing the Institut des Amériques Fiona Mazurenko, Director, Global Initiatives and Alumni Relations, Texas Global, UT Austin
4:30-5:30 p.m.	Networking Reception

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Time	Event
8:30-9 a.m.	Registration and Coffee
9-9:15 a.m.	Opening Remarks Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost of Global Engagement and Chief International Officer, UT Austin
9:15-10 a.m.	Keynote Address Professor Adam Klein, Director, Robert Strauss Center for International Security & Law; Senior Lecturer, UT Austin Law School
10 -10:15 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:15-11:30 a.m.	Panel: Transatlantic Security and Strategic Alliances Dr. Maud Quessard, Senior Research Fellow, Director of Europe, Transatlantic Space, Russia Department, Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l’École Militaire (IRSEM) Dr. David Cadier, Senior Research Fellow on European Security, Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l’École Militaire (IRSEM) (TBC) Dr. Jesse Johnson, Assistant Professor, Department of Government, UT Austin Dr. Lorinc Redei, Assistant Professor, Department of Government, UT Austin Moderator: Dr. Michael Mosser, Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Government, UT Austin
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m	Fireside Chat: Reflections on French and American Political Institutions Dr. Vincent Michelot, Professor of American Politics and Vice President, International Relations, ENS de Lyon Dr. Sean Theriault, Professor, Department of Government, UT Austin
12:30-12:45 p.m.	Closing Remarks Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost of Global Engagement and Chief International Officer, UT Austin

Participating Institutions

UT Austin

• Center for European Studies
• Department of Government
• Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law
• Texas Law
• LBJ School of Public Affairs
• Department of French and Italian

France

• Institut des Amériques
• Aix-Marseille Université
• Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
• Université Paris-Nanterre
• Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l’École Militaire (IRSEM)
• École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon)

About the Institut des Amériques-UT Austin Center 

The Institut des Amériques (IdA) is a French research institution that fosters interdisciplinary and comparative studies on the Americas. In 2019, UT Austin became the newest member of IdA’s international network. The IdA-Texas Austin Center was established to promote collaborative, transdisciplinary research between France and the Americas, as well as academic exchange between European and American scholars.

Contact txglobal-grants@austin.utexas.edu for more information.