In a significant policy shift, the British government has confirmed that UK students will be readmitted to the European Union's flagship Erasmus+ exchange programme. The announcement, made against a backdrop of rising nationalism across the continent, has been hailed as a positive, if modest, step for the internationalist ideal.
A Cosmopolitan Dream in a Nationalist Era
The decision marks a reversal of Britain's post-Brexit withdrawal from the scheme, which was named after the Renaissance scholar Desiderius Erasmus, a self-described "citizen of the world". The programme's core mission has long been to foster a sense of European citizenship. Its return comes at a critical time, as Euroscepticism has spread beyond British shores and nationalist politics have gained ground in numerous EU member states.
Julian Baggini, a writer and philosopher who participated in an early iteration of the programme in 1989, views the move as a "brief flicker of hope". He argues that the original vision of ever-closer union faltered partly because cosmopolitanism, while strengthening global ties, can weaken local bonds. This tension, he suggests, was clumsily echoed in political rhetoric like Keir Starmer's "island of strangers" comment, which risked inflaming populist anxieties.
Erasmus+ as a Model for Managed Mobility
Baggini contends that Erasmus+ succeeds because it is a highly managed system, not an open-border free-for-all. It maintains a crucial distinction between being a guest and being a permanent arrival, a dynamic he experienced firsthand as a student in Rotterdam. This structure, he believes, is key to public acceptance and shows how mobility and belonging can coexist.
His time at Erasmus University in Rotterdam proved formative, exposing him to tangible cultural differences. He observed a more serious academic culture, a different social approach to leisure, and was introduced to philosophical thinkers like Foucault and Merleau-Ponty—exposures he doubts he would have had at his home university in Reading. These experiences, built on a multitude of small, everyday contrasts, fostered genuine respect and understanding.
Harmony in Diversity: A Lesson for Europe
The fundamental lesson of Erasmus+, Baggini proposes, is that European unity is built on diversity, not in spite of it. This principle is better captured by the Confucian concept of 'harmony' than by classic European enlightenment thought. True harmony requires different elements, just as music needs different notes or a soup needs balanced ingredients.
He argues that the European project has often failed to communicate that the preservation of national and regional identities is essential for a harmonious union. While the EU sometimes gets this right—such as in protecting regional foods—it is too often perceived as an enemy of national identity. Erasmus+, by design, celebrates the unique character of each member state.
While student travel is more common today, Baggini emphasises that immersing oneself in one place for months remains a uniquely powerful educational tool. Alone, it will not reverse the nativist political currents that have swept Europe. However, Britain's re-entry into the programme is a clear signal that history does not move in a straight line. It offers a model for a revived Europeanism where continental, national, and regional identities can enrich one another.
And as the programme's namesake might advise, there is a simpler pleasure at its heart. Erasmus believed enjoyment should be mingled with study, turning learning into a game rather than drudgery. For the next generation of British students heading to the continent, that spirit of engaged, joyful discovery may be the most valuable lesson of all.
