Two guiding ideas developed during this conference:
Cycle of conferences
1- the genesis of modern Western Europe since the 16th century.
- The exemplary case of Amsterdam and the Netherlands in the 17th century as a laboratory for European modernity.
- The emergence of the nation state and the power of cities, the development of religious liberalism, the predominance of a market culture.
- The culture of innovation and progress (technical and social)
2- the position of Europe and the European Union in globalization?
- European expansions in the modern era, transition from the Mediterranean economy to the Atlantic and world economy.
- Competition with the Far East (China) and the great divergence at the beginning of the 19th century.
- The European Union in contemporary globalization.
