Kreisky Forum Talks

Tessa Szyszkowitz in conversation with Nomi Bar-Yaacov MIDDLE EAST 2024: ALTERNATIVES TO ALL OUT WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN On the eve of the US-elections Nomi Bar-Yaacov will discuss the implications of the current escalation of violence between Israel and Iran on the region. She will discuss the plans on the table for de-escalation in the context of geopolitical trends and concerns. Bar-Yaacov has many years of experience with Track-2-negotiations in the Middle East. She is convinced that there is no military solution to the conflicts in the region and the only solution is to build on to what the 57 Islamic States and Arab States are offering at the UN, a ceasefire in Gaza, return of all 101 hostages, return of all the displaced Gazans, a ceasefire in Lebanon and an implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, return of all displaced Lebanese and Israelis, and a recognition that there will only be security for Israel with a Palestinian State. The alternative, she says is not in Israel’s security interests. Nomi Bar-Yaacov is a leading international lawyer, negotiator, arbitrator and mediator with three decades of experience in high stakes international negotiation and international conflict management, including negotiations of complex cease-fire agreements and peace agreements. She is a highly sought after global keynote speaker and commentator at the intersection of geopolitics, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. She also covers technology for peace. She is an Associate Fellow at the International Security Department at Chatham House, The Royal Institute for International Affairs, in London. She is a frequent commentator for BBC Radio 4, BBC World TV, BBC Newsnight, SKY News, CNBC, CBC, Deutsche Welle TV, France24, RAI TV, and Al-Jazeera (Arabic and English). She speaks and works in six languages fluently. She is quoted often in leading newspapers including The New York Times and Washington Post. Tessa Szyszkowitz is an Austrian journalist and author. A UK correspondent for Austrian and German publications such as Falter or Tagesspiegel, she curates Philoxenia at Kreisky Forum and she is a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute in London.

Robert Misik im Gespräch mit Roger de Weck DAS PRINZIP TROTZDEMWarum wir den Journalismus vor den Medien retten müssen   Über die Krise des Journalismus als demokratiepolitische Herausforderung Autoritäre Populisten trumpfen auf. Desinformation und Fake News grassieren. Und der Journalismus, der dem wehren sollte? Er kommt aus der Krise nicht heraus. Es gibt zwar mehr Medien, aber immer weniger Mittel für den Journalismus. Verlage wollen ihre Einbußen wettmachen, indem sie noch mehr laute Meinungen und Soft-Themen bringen. Doch die »Boulevardigitalisierung« nützt just den Populisten, die sich derselben Stilmittel bedienen: Zuspitzung, Skandalisierung, Aufregung. Roger de Weck liebt Journalismus als Beruf. Er kennt ihn in allen Facetten – als Zeitungsmacher und Rundfunkchef, Reporter und Moderator. Und er macht sich Sorgen, weil die Gesetze des Medienbetriebs und die des Journalismus immer weiter auseinanderlaufen. Dagegen setzt de Weck auf das »Prinzip Trotzdem«: Recherchieren, abwägen, sich treu bleiben – trotz Sparmaßnahmen, trotz X & Co. Doch wie geht das? Der Autor zeigt, wie sich Journalismus stärken lässt. Denn ohne diesen wertvollen Spielverderber läuft das Spiel nicht in der Demokratie.   Roger de Weck, geboren 1953, war Zeit-Chefredakteur, Generaldirektor des Schweizer Radios und Fernsehens, Mitglied des Zukunftsrats für Reformen bei ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandfunk. Im Suhrkamp Verlag erschien zuletzt Die Kraft der Demokratie, das mit dem Bruno-Kreisky-Preis für das Politische Buch 2020 ausgezeichnet wurde. Robert Misik, Autor und Journalist

Gertraud Borea d´Olmo im Gespräch mit Philipp Blom HOFFNUNGÜber ein kluges Verhältnis zur Welt   Kann man in diesen Zeiten noch hoffen? In seinem neuen Buch, das Ende September im Hanser Verlag erscheint, zeigt Philipp Blom, wie Hoffnung möglich bleibt. Es ist noch nicht lange her, da stand die Zukunft für eine bessere Welt. Inzwischen haben wir uns angewöhnt, mit dem Schlimmsten zu rechnen, und mussten oft genug erleben, dass es noch schlimmer kam. Gibt es wirklich keinen vernünftigen Grund mehr, zu hoffen? Philipp Blom findet die Ursprünge der Hoffnung in einem religiösen Weltverständnis, mit dem die Gegenwart nicht mehr viel anfangen kann: Das Dasein war sinnvoll, weil es in ein ewiges Leben münden würde. Heute könnte uns das Bedürfnis nach Hoffnung dazu treiben, ein sinnvolles Leben zu führen, indem wir Ziele für eine bessere Welt verfolgen: Gerechtigkeit etwa oder Nachhaltigkeit. Das wäre das Gegenteil von naivem Optimismus, das wäre eine vernünftige Haltung zur Welt. Sie ist nötiger denn je. Philipp Blom studierte Philosophie, Geschichte und Judaistik in Wien und Oxford. Er lebt als Schriftsteller und Historiker in Wien und schreibt regelmäßig für europäische und amerikanische Zeitschriften und Zeitungen. Er erhielt zahlreiche Auszeichnungen, u. a. das Stipendium am Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, den Premis Internacionals Terenci Moix und den NDR Kultur Sachbuchpreis. Bei Hanser erschienen u. a. Die Welt aus den Angeln (2017), Was auf dem Spiel steht (2017) und Die Unterwerfung (2022). Gertraud Borea d’Olmo ist Mitglied des Vorstands des Bruno Kreisky Forums   

Suliman Baldo, Annette Weber, Amira Osman, Osama Kheir Mohamed, Irene Horejs SUDAN’S DEVASTING WAR ON PEOPLE – WHAT INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE?   Five years ago, a peaceful civil society uprising has managed to oust Sudan´s long term dictator Omar Al Beshir and to install a joint civilian-military government for a 3 years transition to democratic elections 3. However, a military coup in October 2021 put an end to hope for democracy and in April 2022, the two power sharing military forces initiated a cruel war with devastating effects on the country.  At present, as a result of looting, the conscious destruction of the economy and the use of hunger as a weapon of war by both warring parties, 10 million people have been displaced and 25 million face the threat of a man made massive famine and starvation. The war in Sudan has also devastating effects on its already instable neighboring countries on the continent. By its strategic location at the Red Sea it has huge implications for the Arab Peninsula as well as for international trade and migration. Multiple international players have a stake in this crisis, most prominently Saudi Arabia and the UAE as active supporters of belligerents, but Russia, the US, the EU and others have their stakes too. Different mediation efforts by Egypt and other neighboring countries, the African Union, Saudia Arabia and the US had little success so far. Yet, despite the humanitarian catastrophe and international implications of this crisis, there seems to be little attention to it by Western media and decision makers. “The world is failing to live up to its commitments to protect civilians in armed conflict”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned. When states fail to protect its citizens, the international community has a responsibility in doing so. Who are the different conflict parties, what are their interests and who is behind them? Why have the different efforts for mediations failed so far? Why do Western powers not intervene more strongly in this catastrophic conflict in a region which combines so many interests for them? What has become of the strong Sudanese civil society mouvements? What role can they play in the current conflict situation? Within the country and as Sudanese diaspora? How can Sudanese civil society and the diaspora contribute to support humanitarian relieve for the victims of this war? These and other questions will be addressed in this panel discussion, which constitutes the opening event of a 3 days meeting of representatives of the Sudanese diaspora from 9 European countries in Vienna. Suliman Baldo: Executive Director of Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker. Formerly led Sudan Democracy First Group, advised U.N. teams in Darfur, and worked with ICTJ, ICG, and HRW. Holds a PhD in Comparative Literature. Annette Weber: EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa with 25+ years in the region. Former head of Africa/Middle East at SWP, mediated in Sudan and Ethiopia, and taught conflict studies. Holds a PhD in Political Science. Amira Osman: Peace activist focused on gender and diaspora. Co-founder of Sudan's Gender Centre for Research and Training, holds a PhD in Peace Studies, and has published on Sudanese women's roles in peace efforts. Osama Kheir Mohamed: Activist and political science student in Vienna, focused on international politics, African theory, and anti-racism. In cooperation with:VIDC – Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation Mendy for peace culture and diversity management  

Cathrin Kahlweit im Gespräch mit Jan Claas Behrends ZEITENWENDE ODER STILLSTAND: WELTMÄCHTE IM NEUEN KALTEN KRIEG   Der deutsche Historiker Jan Claas Behrend liest im Bruno Kreisky Forum im Gespräch mit der Korrespondentin Cathrin Kahlweit (Süddeutsche Zeitung) der Sozialdemokratie wegen ihrer Illusionen über Wladimir Putin die Leviten. Aufgenommen am 23. Oktober 2024 im BKF, Podcast-Edit FALTER Radio

Robert Misik im Gespräch mit Rahel Jaeggi FORTSCHRITT UND REGRESSION   Die Abschaffung der Sklaverei, die Einführung sozialer Sicherungssysteme, die Sanktionierung von Vergewaltigung in der Ehe gelten gemeinhin als gesellschaftlicher Fortschritt – als ein Wandel zum Besseren. Dennoch hat die Idee einer generellen Fortschrittsbewegung ihren alten Glanz verloren, ja, sie ruft sogar Skepsis hervor. In aller Munde ist hingegen die Diagnose der Regression. Sie wird diversen Zeiterscheinungen gestellt, vom rechtsautoritären Populismus bis zur Demokratiemüdigkeit. Rahel Jaeggi verteidigt in ihrem Buch das Begriffspaar Fortschritt und Regression als unverzichtbares sozialphilosophisches Werkzeug für die Kritik unserer Zeit. Als fortschrittlich oder regressiv versteht sie nicht nur das Resultat, sondern vor allem die Gestalt gesellschaftlicher Transformationen selbst. Indem sie nach den Erfahrungsblockaden fragt, die regressiven Tendenzen Vorschub leisten, entwickelt sie einen Begriff des Fortschritts, der eurozentrische Verzerrungen ebenso vermeidet wie die Vorstellung einer zwangsläufigen Entwicklungstendenz. Fortschritt, so zeigt sie, ist nicht der Vorlauf zu einem bereits bekannten Ziel, sondern der nie abgeschlossene Prozess der Emanzipation. Rahel Jaeggi, ist Professorin für Praktische Philosophie an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin und leitet dort seit 2018 das Centres for Social Critique. Als Gastprofessorin unterrichtete sie an der Yale University, Fudan University in Shanghai, New School for Social Research in New York und war Fellow am Institute for Advance Studies an der Princeton University. Gegenstand ihrer Forschung sind u.a. die Begriffe der Entfremdung, der Kommodifizierung bzw. Verdinglichung, der Ideologie, der Lebensform, der Institution und der Solidarität. Robert Misik, Autor und Journalist

MQ-Gespräche Gemeinsam mit Gästen, die sich international einen Namen als herausragende Analytiker:innen gemacht haben, diskutiert Philipp Blom soziale, politische und wissenschaftliche Fragen der Gegenwart, um ihre Strukturen und treibenden Kräfte aus unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln zu beleuchten. Eine Kooperation zwischen ⁠MQ⁠, ⁠IWM⁠, ⁠BKF⁠ und ⁠RD Foundation.⁠ Philipp Blom in conversation with Ivan Krastev TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY VERTIGO   There is a widespread feeling that the early 21st century, our own time, is torn between two world orders, one decaying, the other not yet established, or not yet understood. The crises of Western democracies, increasing polarisation, a new aristocracy of the super rich, and populist revolts against all kinds of elites and the return of widespread political violence, are symptomatic of powerful forces tearing apart a world that seemed stable. But which powers are behind this? How important are migration, economic globalisation, new wars and new alliances, digitisation, smartphones, and artificial intelligence in this mix? Ivan Krastev grew up in a time of revolution in Bulgaria and has made it his life’s work to understand what drives them and how to protect and encourage liberty in a rule-based order. Series host Philipp Blom is fascinated by turning points in history and believes that our present may be the biggest of them all. Philipp Blom speaks with Ivan Krastev about the social, cultural and political tensions that may well end democracy and usher in autocracy, and what can be done to strengthen both individual potentials and social cohesion in a time of crisis. Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies, Sofia, and Permanent Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna (IWM)Philipp Blom, historian and author of several novels, journalism, politics, and philosophy. He also works a radio presenter, documentary film maker and as a public lecturer. Recorded on 22 October @MQLibelle, Museumsquartier

Tessa Szyszkowitz in conversation with Matthew Teller and Mahmoud Muna DAYBREAK IN GAZA A year ago, a new era started for Gaza: A war, triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel of October 7th, destroyed most of the Gaza strip. Houses, infrastructure, hospitals, schools – but most importantly: More than 40.000 people. The total destruction of the Palestinian territory, governed by Hamas and inhabited by 2,2 million Palestinians, is a humanitarian and political catastrophe. As its heritage is being destroyed, Gaza’s survivors preserve their culture through literature, music, stories and memories. Daybreak in Gaza is a record of that heritage, revealing an extraordinary place and people. Matthew Teller and Mahmoud Muna collected vignettes of artists, acrobats, doctors, students, shopkeepers and teachers across the generations offer stories of love, life, loss and survival. They display the wealth of Gaza’s cultural landscape and the breadth of its history. This remarkable book humanises the people dismissed as mere statistics. Daybreak in Gaza stands as a mark of resistance to the destruction, and as a testament to the people of Gaza.  ‘A most significant collection, one that frightens, awes and inspires, the timeliest of reminders of our common humanity and the irrepressible force of the written word.’ Philippe Sands   Matthew Teller is a UK-based author and broadcaster writing on place and culture, with a special focus on Palestine and the wider Middle East. His 2022 book Nine Quarters of Jerusalem: A New Biography of the Old City was a Daily Telegraph Book of the Year. Teller produces and presents documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and World Service, and reports for BBC Radio’s ‘From Our Own Correspondent’. Mahmoud Muna is a writer, publisher and bookseller from Jerusalem, Palestine. He runs Jerusalem’s celebrated Educational Bookshop and the Bookshop at the American Colony Hotel, both centres of the city’s literary scene. Muna writes regularly on culture and politics, with bylines in the London Review of Books and Jerusalem Quarterly, among others. Tessa Szyszkowitz is an Austrian journalist and author. A UK correspondent for Austrian and German publications such as Falter and Tagesspiegel, she curates Philoxenia at Kreiskyforum and is also a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute in London.

Irene Horejs in conversation with Federico Donelli and Marie Roger Biloa RWANDA 30 YEARS ARFTER THE GENOCIDE – A CONTESTED PARTNER FOR EU INTERESTS IN AFRICA?   30 years after the genocide, Rwanda is one of Africa’s fast-growing economies and one of the most modern countries in sub-Saharan Africa with remarkable rates of poverty reduction, education, health and employment and relatively low corruption levels. This development has been achieved with a flaw of autocratic rule, silencing critical voices and cracking down on opponents even outside the country. In July 2024, President Paul Kagame was reelected by 99% for a 4th term in office, in an election without any serious contenders. Despite autocratic rule and flagrant human rights violations, Rwanda remains well regarded among the (guilt ridden) international community and foreign investors, mainly due to its record in fighting corruption and its reliable debt service with international banks. Rwanda – one of the smallest countries in Africa – has also become an important, – though contentious– player on the continent. It has an important voice in the African Union and other international organizations, is one of the most important providers of troops to multilateral peacekeeping missions and has signed contracts as a bilateral security provider in the Central African Republic and in Mozambique, where Rwandan troupes are, among others, securing the operations of TOTAL ELF. At the same time, Rwanda´s military is accused to fuel war in Eastern Congo by supporting one of the main rebel groups, the M23. The war, which involves dozens of armed groups, has not only generated massive displacement and one of the largest humanitarian crises, but appears also to be linked to the illicit extraction of valuable raw materials – essential for the transformation of the EU economy under the Green Deal. Indeed, Rwanda exports more raw materials than it produces. Nonetheless, the EU has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Raw Material Value Chains with Rwanda – a move which triggered immediately criticism in the DRC and EU member countries. How to understand these contradictions in both Rwanda´s foreign policy and the EU policies towards Rwanda? What does this mean for the EU and its interests on the continent? Is Rwanda a reliable security partner for a renewal of the African security architecture? Is it a reliable partner for improving governance in mineral extraction and contributing to secure the raw materials for the EU economy? How does the EU – one of the major development donors and sources of foreign investment – deal with Rwanda´s multiple human rights violations?   Federico Donelli, International Relations in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the University of Trieste Marie Roger-Biloa, member of ECDPM’s board of governors, media publisher and TV producer Irene Horejs, former EU-Ambassador, Bruno Kreisky Forum   Federico Donelli, Ph.D, University of Trieste, expert in international politics and security of the Middle East and Africa. Dr Donelli is also a Senior Research Associate at the Istituto di Studi di PoliticaInternazionale (ISPI) in Milan and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Orion Policy Institute (OPI) in Washington D.C. He is a consultant on political and security issues to a variety of governments, private companies, and international organizations. Marie-Roger Biloa is a member of ECDPM’s board of governors since April 2023. She is  a Cameroonian magazine editor, television show host, journalist, filmmaker and president of various community-oriented initiatives. She lives in France, from where she hosts a television talk show. In France, she was named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. For her work as a journalist, she has also received the Percy Qoboza Award. Ms Biloa owns a website named Africa-international.

Helfried Carl im Gespräch mit Vedran Džihić ANKOMMEN   Sind wir bald da?Vom Flüchtling zum anerkannten Wissenschaftler: Vedran Džihić ist angekommen. Doch was braucht es, um den Neubeginn zu schaffen? Wann fühlen wir uns einer Gesellschaft wirklich zugehörig?   Jänner 1993, Traiskirchen bei Wien: Hier kommt Vedran Džihić auf seiner Flucht vor dem Bosnienkrieg an. In Österreich fühlt er sich sicher, erlebt aber auch Gleichgültigkeit und Benachteiligung. Parallel zu seinem bemerkenswerten Bildungsaufstieg machen sich in Europa Populismus und Nationalismus breit. Geflüchtete und Migrant:innen werden immer mehr zur Gefahr stilisiert. Eindringlich beschreibt Vedran Džihić sein persönliches Ankommen und warnt vor der grassierenden Politik der Angst und Ausgrenzung. Wie geht unsere Gesellschaft mit „Anderen“ um? Was ist nötig, damit sich alle zuhause fühlen?   Verdran Džihić wurde 1976 in Prijedor, Bosnien und Herzegowina, geboren. 2009 schloss er sein Doktorat in Politikwissenschaften an der Universität Wien ab. Heute ist er Senior Researcher am Österreichischen Institut für Internationale Politik (oiip) und unterrichtet an der Universität Wien. Džihić ist Initiator zahlreicher politischer und zivilgesellschaftlicher Initiativen in Österreich und Südosteuropa. Er gehört zu den gefragtesten Balkan Experten im deutschsprachigen Raum, kommentiert dazu in internationalen und nationalen Medien und veröffentlicht regelmäßig Essays. Helfried Carl, Diplomat, seit 2019 Partner des von ihm mitbegründeten Innovation in Politics Institute in Wien und Gründer der Initiative European Capital of Democracy. Von 2014-2019 war er Botschafter Österreichs in der Slowakischen Republik, davor, von 2008-2014, Büroleiter und außenpolitischer Berater von Nationalratspräsidentin Barbara Prammer.