Defense of Democracy in Central Europe and the US with Leszek Jażdżewski

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda welcomes Leszek Jażdżewski, a journalist, political analyst, and editor-in-chief of Liberté!. Their discussion explores the growing influence of populist leaders, the European Union’s struggle to address democratic backsliding, and how the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency could reshape transatlantic relations. Jażdżewski provides insights into Poland’s shifting political landscape, the ideological battle between liberal and illiberal forces, and the role of media in shaping democratic discourse. He also examines the broader European response to the Russo-Ukrainian War, the future of European security policy, and Poland’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council.

Leszek Jażdżewski is a Polish journalist, editor, and political analyst specializing in European politics, democracy, and media. He founded Liberté! in 2008 as a platform to promote liberal values, counteract authoritarianism, and encourage open debate. He also created Freedom Games, an influential intellectual forum that brings together policymakers, journalists, and academics to discuss the key challenges facing democratic societies. Jażdżewski has been recognized as a European Young Leader by Friends of Europe and was appointed a Policy Fellow at the School of Transnational Government at the EUI and a 2019/20 Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation. He frequently writes and speaks on democracy, governance, and media influence in the digital age.