How can democracies preserve their strategic agency while upholding their normative foundations in an era of global systemic competition? Where does pragmatic cooperation remain viable, and where must firm ethical boundaries be drawn?
Building on the success of our last event with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, our annual Helmut Schmidt Lecture returns to address one of the most defining challenges of our time.
We are honoured to welcome Ivan Krastev as this year’s keynote speaker for an evening that also celebrates the launch of the sixth issue of the BKHS Magazine. Under the theme “Navigating Power and Principles!” both the lecture event and the publication will explore how Europe and open societies can position themselves in a volatile world – translating democratic values into strategic capability without surrendering their core principles.
Ivan Krastev is a prominent political scientist and author widely recognised for his analysis of European politics, democracy, and global affairs. He currently serves as the chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, Bulgaria, and is a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna. Widely regarded as a keen observer of the shifting landscape of global liberalism and authoritarian trends, Krastev is a frequent contributor to international discourse on geopolitical developments. His work often explores the challenges facing contemporary democratic systems, particularly within Europe and the broader transatlantic context.
Interested?
Further details on the programme will follow.