As geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and environmental crises intensify, how is Europe—and particularly the Western Balkans—positioned within these global transformations? This panel will examine the broader implications of today’s disruptions for democracy, governance, and socio-economic stability.
From shifting global power dynamics to deepening inequalities and the struggle for just transitions, the discussion will explore how regional actors navigate uncertainty, resist extractive models, and shape alternative futures. What strategies can small and peripheral states employ to maintain democratic resilience? How can societies respond to economic and environmental pressures without reinforcing existing divisions? By addressing these pressing questions, the panel will provide insights into the Western Balkans’ role in shaping Europe’s future at a time of profound transformation.
Participants:
Sanja Bojanić, Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe at the University of Rijeka
Petar Bojanić, Founding Director of the Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe
Gazela Pudar Draško, Director of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade
Vedran Džihić, Director at the Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe and a Senior Fellow at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs
Hedvig Morvai, Executive Director, Europe and Democracy at ERSTE Foundation
Misha Glenny, IWM Rector
Ludger Hagedorn, IWM Permanent Fellow
Ivan Krastev, IWM Albert Hirschmann Permanent Fellow
Ivan Vejvoda, IWM Permanent Fellow
