Vienna Coffee House Conversations with Ivan Vejvoda

Discussion Highlights: Post-Enlightenment era: Shift from fact-driven, technocratic politics to emotional, myth-based narratives; “new romanticism” as politics serving emotional needs. Tribal politics: Politics as moralized conflict; unconditional leader loyalty; democratic norms waived as “necessary” in existential struggle; disinformation and conspiracy theories as tools of tribal mobilization....

Discussion Highlights: Building Schengen: Origins in the Coal and Steel Community (1952), the Treaty of Rome (1958), and the Schengen Agreement (1995), creating 16,000 km of invisible internal borders through a single market and shared enforcement mechanisms. Asylum strains: Germany and Austria have received over half of all EU asylum seekers during the Syrian and Ukrainian crises, revealing the b...

Discussion Highlights: Demographic megatrends : Population is shrinking and aging across Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe; fertility rates remain low and often below replacement levels. Some Western nations rely on immigration to maintain workforce levels. Economic and fiscal impact : Falling birth rates and working-age populations threaten tax bases needed to sustain pensions, healthcare,...

Discussion Highlights: Global demographic megatrends include aging populations, declining fertility rates, and diverging regional population dynamics. Migration patterns involve both forced displacement from conflict zones such as Ukraine and Palestine and labor migration from the Western Balkans, with climate-related movement remaining unpredictable. Depopulation in the Western Balkans is driven...

Discussion Highlights: Idemo!'s Mission: Building bridges between Austria and the Western Balkans. Democratic Challenges: Addressing political instability and ethnic divisions in the region. Diaspora Engagement: Mobilizing communities to support democratic initiatives. "Speak Up!" Program: Empowering young leaders to collaborate across ethnic lines. EU Integration: Navigating the path toward Europ...

Episode Notes Discussion Highlights: Europe’s Democratic Challenges: How can the EU defend its core values against rising authoritarianism? Ukraine’s Struggle and Global Freedom: Why does Ukraine’s resistance matter beyond its borders? Populism and Economic Inequality: How have neoliberal policies contributed to democratic erosion? The Role of Transnational Civil Society: Can grassroots movements...

Discussion Highlights: Trump’s Return and European Security: How could another Trump presidency impact NATO and EU defense policy? Poland’s Role in the EU: What can Poland’s upcoming EU presidency achieve in shaping European priorities? The Battle for Democracy in Central Europe: Why are populist and authoritarian movements gaining ground? Hungary and Slovakia’s Political Shifts: How illiberal gov...

Discussion Highlights: Trump’s Return and European Security: How prepared is Europe for another Trump presidency? Hungary’s Role in the EU: Orbán’s strategy of balancing economic dependence on Europe while forging alliances with China and Russia. The Future of Illiberalism: Why are authoritarian-leaning leaders gaining ground in Europe? Opposition in Hungary: Can Péter Magyar’s movement challenge...

Discussion Highlights: Europe’s preparedness for a potential second Trump presidency. Challenges to EU strategic autonomy and transatlantic relations. The influence of defense contracts and energy dependencies on European policies. Internal EU struggles: technocracy versus democracy and stalled institutional reforms. Enlargement prospects in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe as pathways to re...

Discussion Highlights: Europe’s preparedness—or lack thereof—for the second Trump presidency. Challenges to EU strategic autonomy and transatlantic relations. The role of defense contracts and energy dependencies in shaping Europe’s policies. The EU's internal struggles: technocracy vs. democracy and stalled institutional reforms. Enlargement opportunities in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe...

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 spendin...

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations , Ivan Vejvoda is joined by historical scientist 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...

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 Vienna and ERSTE Foundation, offers a detailed account of Slovakia’s path from post-communist transition to its curren...

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 d...

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 Pa...

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations, Ivan Vejvoda hosts Kim Lane Scheppele, the Lawrence S. Rockefeller Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University. With a particular focus on the example of Hungary under Orbán, they explore the rise of populism, identity politics, and nationalism, and point out the threats these pose to democracy - especially when...

In this episode of the Vienna Coffee House Conversations with Ivan Vejvoda, the host speaks with Erik Jones, director of the Schuman Center for Advanced Studies at the European University in Florence. Covering the rise of populism, nationalism, and identitarian politics in Europe and beyond, Jones argues that the current political disorder is neither new nor exceptional, drawing parallels to histo...

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 emphasi...

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 e...

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 innovatio...

In this episode of the Vienna Coffeehouse 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 in...

In this episode of Vienna Coffeehouse 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...

In this episode of Vienna Coffeehouse 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...

Twenty-five years after the Good Friday Agreement brought an uneasy peace to Northern Ireland, this episode sees Ivan Vejvoda engage in an enlightening conversation with Queen's University Belfast's Katy Hayward as they examine the fragile stability and uncertain future status of the region in the wake of Brexit's destabilizing impact. Hayward provides insight into Northern Ireland's changing demo...

In the aftermath of troubling recent violence, this episode sees Ivan Vejvoda host Ilir Deda for a discussion of the uncertain future facing the Western Balkans as the complex Serbian/Kosovan relationship hangs in the balance. Making a strong case for a robust and immediate diplomatic effort to ensure that the agreement reached in March is implemented quickly, Deda runs through the obstacles to pr...