EU in Flux

In this episode of Live Players, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja dive deep into the European Union. They examine the bloc's historical foundation centered on peace and economic prosperity, contrasting its ambitious goals with its current realities. They discuss EU's challenges, including a fragmented digital market, inconsistencies in labor and defense policies, and bureaucratic hurdles. They also explore Brexit's impact, the interplay between the EU and NATO, and the implications of energy policies, immigration, and the possibility of a European superstate.  — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast — SPONSORS: 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. — LINKS: Subscribe to Bismarck Brief - https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ The American Challenge: https://www.amazon.com/American-Challenge-Jean-Jacques-Servan-Schreiber/dp/0689102461 — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:28) The Origins and Goals of the EU (01:56) Economic Challenges and Market Scale (04:57) Digital and Labor Market Fragmentation (08:18) The Vision of a European Super State (12:54) European Defense and Foreign Policy (18:24) Scientific and Industrial Policy in the EU (23:56) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave (26:21) Brexit: Expectations vs. Reality (30:22) Economic and Political Tensions in Europe (33:05) The Future of the EU: Scenarios and Predictions (35:26) Challenges of EU Expansion and Decision Making (36:54) Energy Policies and Geopolitical Implications (42:48) The Future of European Integration (44:55) The Role of Higher Education in Europe (51:41) Multiculturalism and Immigration in Europe (58:46) Thoughts on European Integration (59:49) Wrap