Podcasts / Vienna Coffee House Conversations with Ivan Vejvoda

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda hosts Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe, for a deep discussion on the implications of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency for Europe. They explore how Europe has adjusted—or failed to adjust—since Trump’s initial term, focusing on key challenges in trade, defense, and foreign policy. Balfour outlines the vulnerabilities Trump’s policies exploit, including Europe’s dependence on the U.S. for security and energy and its fragmented approach to strategic autonomy.

Rosa Balfour is the director of Carnegie Europe, specializing in European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy. Her current research examines the interplay between domestic politics and Europe's global role. In addition to her role at Carnegie Europe, Balfour serves as an advisor to Women in International Security Brussels (WIIS-Brussels) and is an associate fellow at LSE IDEAS. She is also an honorary patron of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and was appointed to the Scientific Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in 2024.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda welcomes Nicole Koenig, Head of Policy at the Munich Security Conference, to discuss the evolving landscape of European security. Against the backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian War and other global crises, they explore how the European Union has responded to these challenges with initiatives that include joint defense spending, the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in NATO, and the establishment of a European Defense Union. Koenig highlights the complexities of fostering deeper EU-NATO cooperation and overcoming political, legal, and financial barriers to a more integrated defense framework.

Nicole Koenig is Head of Policy at the Munich Security Conference, where she oversees the development of the conference’s strategic agenda and policy initiatives. She has extensive experience in EU foreign and security policy, particularly in the area of Franco-German cooperation. Prior to joining the MSC, she served as Deputy Director of the Jacques Delors Centre at the Hertie School in Berlin, where she focused on European integration and security issues. Koenig has held research positions at several prominent think tanks, including the Centre for European Policy Studies and the European Policy Centre, and has published widely on topics related to EU defense, NATO, and transatlantic relations. She frequently provides analysis for European and international media. She was a 2019/20 Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda is joined by historical scientist and friend of the show Luke Cooper to discuss Ukraine’s resilience in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion and the broader geopolitical challenges facing the country. Cooper shares insights from his recent visits to cities like Kyiv, Dnipro, and Lviv, noting the surprising resilience and sense of normalcy among Ukrainians amidst conflict. He emphasizes the social and economic impacts of the war, including widespread displacement and the steadfast resolve of those in Russian-occupied regions awaiting liberation.

Luke Cooper is a historical sociologist and political scientist specializing in conflict, democracy, and European studies, currently serving as an Associate Professorial Research Fellow at the Conflict and Civicness Research Group at the London School of Economics (LSE). He directs the PeaceRep Ukraine Program and co-founded Another Europe is Possible, an advocacy group focused on progressive European politics. Additionally, Cooper is an established podcaster and author, whose most recent book, Authoritarian Contagion: The Global Threat to Democracy (2021) examines the global rise of authoritarianism.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda speaks with Grigorij Mesežnikov, political scientist and president of the Institute for Public Affairs, about the political trajectory of Slovakia. Mesežnikov, a 2019/20 Europe’s Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation, offers a detailed account of Slovakia’s path from post-communist transition to its current political challenges, marked by the return of Robert Fico’s populist government.

Grigorij Mesežnikov is a prominent political scientist based in Bratislava, Slovakia. He co-founded the Institute for Public Affairs and has served as its president since the 1990s. Mesežnikov is a key commentator on Slovak politics and contributes regularly to both domestic and international media. His research focuses on democratization, political culture, and civil society in post-communist countries.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda is joined by Sławomir Sierakowski, a distinguished Polish sociologist, public intellectual, and founder of Kritika Polityczna. Together, they explore the current state of democracy in Europe amidst rising authoritarianism and populism. Sierakowski provides his insights on the recent European elections, Poland's return to democratic norms, and the implications of the Russo-Ukrainian war on European security and global politics.

Sławomir Sierakowski is a prominent Polish sociologist, public intellectual, and the founder of Kritika Polityczna. He is also a senior fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations and the president of the program board  of ImpactCEE.

In this episode, Ivan Vejvoda is joined by Philippe C. Schmitter to discuss the current state and future of democracy, particularly in the context of rising populism and authoritarianism. Known for his influential works on transitions from authoritarian rule and the democratization of the European Union, Schmitter explores the impact of the EU's parliamentary elections, the return of the Labour Party to power in the UK as well as the rise of nationalism and identity politics.

Johan-Skytte-Prize winner Philippe C. Schmitter is an Emeritus Professor of the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute in Florence. Celebrated for his work on democracy, democratic transitions, authoritarianism, and populism, Schmitter has authored influential books such as "Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions About Uncertain Democracies" and "How to Democratize the European Union and Why Bother?" His research continues to shape the field of comparative politics.