Podcasts / Vienna Coffee House Conversations with Ivan Vejvoda

In this episode of the "Vienna Coffee House Conversations" podcast, Ivan Vejvoda interviews Ivan Marović, executive director of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, about his experiences and insights on nonviolent civil resistance. Marović reflects on his journey from his work as a highly consequential student activist to his current role promoting civil resistance globally. He emphasizes the importance of sustained, organized movements over spontaneous protests and the need for civil society to actively engage in politics to prevent authoritarianism.

Ivan Marović is an activist and expert in nonviolent resistance, renowned for his pivotal role in Serbia's Otpor! movement, which was instrumental in the overthrow of Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. As one of the movement's leaders, Marović helped develop strategies that mobilized significant grassroots support and led to a peaceful transition of power. Following this success, he dedicated his career to advising and training pro-democracy groups around the globe. Currently, Marović serves as the Executive Director of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC), where he continues to advocate for strategic nonviolent action and educate others on the principles of civil resistance.

Kicking off the second half of season three where we will look beyond the ranks of Europe's Futures Fellows to bring you conversations from thought leaders and key thinkers across the academic and policy spectrum, this new episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations with Ivan Vejvoda features a conversation with distinguished professor Ruth Wodak. Ruth shares her expertise on the recurring evils of history, particularly emphasizing contemporary antisemitism and its roots. Her personal story, interwoven with academic observations, provides a poignant backdrop and urgency to the conversation about the resurgence of right-wing politics in Europe.

Ruth Wodak is a distinguished linguist and Emerita Distinguished Professor of Discourse Studies at Lancaster University, as well as a retired Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Vienna. Renowned for her research in critical discourse studies, Wodak's work delves into topics such as language in politics, identity politics, gender studies, and the discourse of racism and anti-Semitism. Over her career, she has been recognized with numerous awards including the Wittgenstein Prize for Elite Researchers in 1996 and the Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2011. Wodak has held several prestigious visiting professorships globally and has authored and co-authored numerous influential books and articles, with her research being translated into many languages.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda hosts Ieva Česnulaitytė, Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation, for a discussion of current issues facing the world's democracies. They examine the declining trust in democratic institutions, the rise of populism, and increasing political polarization. Česnulaitytė brings her background in democratic innovation to talk about the role of citizens' assemblies and participatory governance in addressing these challenges. The conversation also covers the impact of technology on cross-cultural deliberations and the importance of face-to-face interactions in community trust-building.

Ieva Česnulaitytė is the Founding Head of Research and Learning at DemocracyNext. Previously a Policy Analyst at the OECD, focusing on citizen participation and open government, she contributed to establishing the OECD's evidence base on sortition-based citizens' assemblies and co-authored the report "Catching the Deliberative Wave". She supported European governments in citizen engagement practices and was involved in developing deliberative processes in Finland and Spain. Her interest in democratic innovation grew during her work in Lithuania’s Prime Minister's office, leading Lithuania’s participation in the Open Government Partnership Initiative. She is a Europe's Futures Fellow for 2023/2024.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda engages with Alberto Alemanno, a leading voice on Europe's democratization. The discussion focuses on the state of democracy in Europe and the European Union, emphasizing the rise of far-right parties and the challenges of upcoming elections, including the 2024 European Parliamentary elections. Alemanno provides insights into electoral trends, the role of conservative parties, and the narrative of a Europe of nations. The conversation (recorded on 4 December 2023) also covers the European Council meeting on 14 and 15 December 2023, touching on decisions regarding Ukraine and Moldova, and institutional reforms within the EU. Alemanno expresses skepticism about the meeting's potential outcomes due to the complex geopolitical landscape and internal EU politics.

Alberto Alemanno is a Jean Monnet Professor in EU Law at HEC Paris since 2009, a permanent visiting professor at the University of Tokyo's School of Public Policy and the College of Europe in Bruges and a 2023/24 Europe's Futures Fellow of ERSTE Foundation and IWM Vienna. He began his academic career as a teaching assistant at the College of Europe in Bruges in 2001, later pursuing a PhD at Bocconi University. Alemanno is a qualified attorney in New York and has worked as a law clerk at the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court of the European Union. He is a Global Clinical Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, where he directs the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, host Ivan Vejvoda welcomes IWM and ERSTE Foundation's Europe's Futures Fellow Vladimir Arsenijević for an insightful dialogue on the cultural and political landscape of post-Yugoslav Europe. The conversation delves into Arsenijević’s multifaceted role as a writer, cultural worker, and engaged intellectual. It covers the challenges of nationalism, the importance of regional cooperation, Serbia's complex relationship with Russia and the European Union, and the evolving cultural scene in Serbia. Arsenijević’s perspective on Serbia's path forward, his humanitarian work in Ukraine, and the role of culture in shaping societal narratives provide a deep understanding of the region's current state and future directions.

IWM Europe's Futures fellow Vladimir Arsenijević is a renowned Serbian author and cultural activist. Since 1994, he has published various works, including novels, stories, and essays, which have been translated into more than 20 languages. He is a recipient of prestigious awards such as the Nin Prize and the National Library of Serbia Award. Arsenijević is also the president and creative director of the association Krokodil, focusing on cultural exchange and humanitarian efforts. His engagement in initiatives like the Krokodil literary festival and cross-border cultural collaborations highlights his commitment to fostering understanding and empathy in the Balkans and beyond.

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda hosts IWM and ECFR fellow Kadri Liik for an urgent and pressing discussion of Russia's geopolitical climate as influenced by its historical trajectory and the evolving preoccupations of President Putin. The conversation navigates Russia's internal political dynamics, the country's evolving relationship with the West, and its position on global matters, especially in light of the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Liik’s perspective on Russia's future, the potential for self-correction, and its interactions with China and the European Union shed a thoughtful and engaging light on the complex fabric of Russia's foreign policy and societal structure.

Kadri Liik, Europe's Futures Fellow of the IWM and ERSTE Foundation, is also a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, with a focused expertise on Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic region. Prior to joining the ECFR in 2012, Liik served as the Director of the International Center for Defense Studies in Estonia. Her career includes roles as a Moscow correspondent for Estonian newspapers, foreign news editor at Postimees, and editor-in-chief at the foreign affairs magazine Diplomaatia. With her experience as a journalist, including hosting the current affairs talk show Välismääraja, Liik brings a unique blend of journalistic acumen and deep policy knowledge to the discussion on Russia’s global role and future prospects.