In 2024, around half of the world's population had voted, bringing about major political upheaval and strengthening nationalist forces around the globe. What do these changes mean for the EU's relations with the US and the rest of the world? This question will be discussed by Toni Haastrup, Professor of Global Politics at the University of Manchester, Ivan Krastev, Chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, and Wolfgang Petritsch, former top Austrian diplomat, with journalist Cathrin Kahlweit on 25 February from 19:00 to 21:00. Venue: Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Favoritenstraße 15a, 1040 Vienna.
At the event, we will explore the geopolitical implications of the rise of nationalist politics on the current wars and crises. What shifts in the global balance of power can be expected between the Global North and South? How do the political changes in the EU and the US affect the relationship with Eastern Europe? How do the changed power relations influence European-African relations? What consequences does the shift to the right have for the increasing securitization of foreign and migration policy? Are the principles of a value-based foreign and human rights policy giving way to an interest-driven foreign policy? Which common interests nevertheless exist that enable international cooperation?
In 2024, elections were held in the EU, the USA, India and also in Austria against the backdrop of major and multiple crises such as wars, inflation, the energy crisis, but also the pandemic and climate change. This led to significant shifts in the balance of power towards nationalist and populist parties and leaders, while social and liberal democracies came under increasing pressure. The world is in motion. Power centers are shifting, and the functioning of international organizations is being put to the test.
Podium
Toni Haastrup
is a Professor & Chair in Global Politics at the University of Manchester. She is an internationally recognised feminist scholar, pioneering research on feminist foreign policy, Africa-EU relations, and global security governance. A prolific author, Professor Haastrup has published widely, including monographs, journal articles, and edited collections on her research themes. Her recent works broadly interrogate how gendered practices shape peace and security globally. Beyond academia, she consults for global institutions like the United Nations and the European Union, offering insights on feminist policy and Africa-EU security dynamics. Recognised with numerous awards, including the Emma Goldman Award, Professor Haastrup’s work continues to shape critical discourse on inclusive, just global governance.
Ivan Krastev
is the chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies and permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences, IWM Vienna. He is a founding board member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the Board of Trustees of The International Crisis Group and member of the Board of Directors of GLOBSEC. He is a Financial Times contributing editor and the author of "Is it Tomorrow, Yet? How the Pandemic Changes Europe" (Allen Lane/Penguin, 2020); The Light that Failed: A Reckoning (Allen Lane/Penguin, 2019), co-authored with Stephen Holmes - won the 30th Annual Lionel Gelber Prize; “After Europe” (UPenn Press, 2017); “Democracy Disrupted. The Global Politics on Protest” (UPenn Press, 2014) and “In Mistrust We Trust: Can Democracy Survive When We Don't Trust Our Leaders?” (TED Books, 2013).
Wolfgang Petritsch
is President of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip) and President of the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation. The diplomat was, among other things, EU Special Envoy for Kosovo (1998-1999), EU Chief Negotiator at the Kosovo peace talks in Rambouillet and Paris (1999) and High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (1999-2002). He was Austrian ambassador to the UN in Geneva (2002-2008) and to the OECD in Paris (2008-2013), as well as Joseph A. Schumpeter Fellow at Harvard University (2013-2014) and visiting professor at Berkeley. He is the author of numerous publications, most recently “Epochenwechsel. Unser digital-autoritäres Jahrhundert”.
Moderator: Cathrin Kahlweit
studied in Oregon, Tübingen, Göttingen and at the Pushkin Institute in the USSR. After graduating from university with a degree in Russian and Political Science in 1985 and completing a training program at the Gruner & Jahr journalism school, she joined the editorial staff of the Süddeutsche Zeitung in 1989. She worked as a domestic policy correspondent and reported on current affairs for the newspaper's Page 2. She initially covered Austria, Central and Eastern Europe (2012–2017) and later the United Kingdom and Ireland (2017–2020) as a foreign policy correspondent. From 2020, she returned to her role as correspondent for Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, which she held until 2024. Since 2025, she has been working as a freelance publicist, moderator and author.