“Giving Europe a soul” — what a beautiful goal
Jochen Sandig
But who can actually achieve that? Which path leads to a Europe that is more than simply the sum of its countries, than a bureaucratic machinery in Brussels and Strasbourg?
A country is not ensouled by nations, regions, cities and municipalities but by the smallest of units: individual people who literally breathe life into a country through their actions and rituals, their local customs, cultures and simply in the continuity of every-day life.
People of all generations, with different sets of experiences, perceptions of the presence and future perspectives. Unfortunately, the term “Europe” continues to trigger a defensive reflex for many citizens who obviously do not know what to make of this large cultural space and tend to see the sociocultural versatility as a threat instead of a valuable enrichment. The Brexit shock has shaken Europe to its core and the current conflict between Catalunya and the central government in Madrid regarding the efforts for autonomy of the region poses another challenge as to how Europe will position itself in the 21st century: As the United States of Europe? As a loose association of regions? Or as a newly reformed model, developed by the citizens in a bottom-up democracy, as suggested by Civico Europa? Only together can we determine which path we should take, and this process is extremely important as Europe is currently at a crossroads.
The American sociologist Benjamin R. Barber, who died in the spring of 2017, published quite relevant articles about the cohabitation of peoples and developed active suggestions how to organize a global community. His reflections culminated in the active foundation of a “Global Parliament of Mayors” to expand the United Nations with the perspective of local, urban spaces, of cities and of municipalities, and to implement goals more quickly and efficiently, such as the global environmental agreement made in Paris.
He contrasts the pursuit of regional or national “independence”, which poses a real threat for Europe — see Brexit and Catalunya conflict — with a vision of global “interdependence”, the reciprocal relationship in a globalized world in which all people and cultures are connected with one another. This network of solidarity also creates responsibility for one another; there is no more inside and outside, the concept of borders must be completely redefined as we move into an open realm in which others become a part of ourselves.
We are facing a historical challenge: Europe only stands a chance if it can be lived and experienced as a great idea of community. We must literally get Europe to dance and vibrate. The citizens’ movement “A Pulse of Europe” demonstrates how it is done: Delight for Europe instead of denial of Europe begins outside of our own front doors, on our streets and public plazas. And it must be propagated in all institutions: in our schools and academies, our concert halls, operas and theater stages, in our museums and sports arenas… In every place in which people gather and encounter each other. Culture and education constitute the two central roles on the path to a new soul of Europe. Only then will the political-bureaucratic Europe transform into a tangibly experienceable Europe.
Let us be venturous and set off onto that path.
Jochen Sandig was born in Esslingen. In 1990 he came to Berlin to study Psychology and Philosophy. After founding the Kunsthaus Tacheles in 1990, he co-founded Sasha Waltz & Guests together with Sasha Waltz in 1993. In 1996, the Sophiensaele, a free production facility for dance and theater, followed in Berlin Mitte. He directed this production until the end of 1999. From 2000 to 2004, Jochen Sandig was a member of the artistic administration and dramaturge at the Schaubühne at Lehniner Platz in Berlin. Since 2004 he is director of Sasha Waltz & Guests GmbH. Jochen Sandig and the music manager Folkert Uhde founded the Radialsystem V, which was opened in 2006. He is shareholder as well as Artistic Co-Director of Radialsystem V. In 2010 he was appointed as »Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres«. In February 2012 Jochen Sandig celebrated his directoral debut with »human requiem«, a staging of the »German Requiem« by Johannes Brahms in cooperation with the Rundfunkchor Berlin and the direction of Simon Halsey. Since its premier in Radialsystem V in Berlin, the production has been performed in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris, Granada, Rotterdam, Athens, Hong Kong and New York. As of 2019, Jochen Sandig will become the managing director of the Ludwigsburg Castle Festival.
