Talk Eastern Europe

>>> Support the podcast, become a patron: www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope Earlier this month was a the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Brdo Slovenia. While there has been a lot of talk of seeking a breakthrough in opening the EU membership door for Western Balkans, not much came to fruition as a result of the high level meeting. Nevertheless, it is important to understand current issues regarding Western Balkans, their relations with the European Union and what might come next.In this episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Maciek catches up with Marta Szpala an analyst at the Warsaw-based Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), to get her insight on the current developments in the region of Western Balkans.**************Full text of the Brdo declaration of the EU-Western Balkans summit: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/52280/brdo-declaration-6-october-2021-en.pdf TEE Episode 61: Bulgaria blocks North Macedonia’s EU aspirations https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-61 The Berlin Process and why the EU remains a political dwarf in the Balkans by Ivan Pepic: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/08/12/the-berlin-process-and-why-the-eu-remains-a-political-dwarf-in-the-balkans/ Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod Network. Learn more here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeThis episode of Talk Eastern Europe attempts to add context to the situation that is taking place on the border with Belarus and Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Since June this year, the regime in Minsk has deliberately stimulated a migration crisis on the eastern border of the EU as a response to tough policies towards the Lukashenka regime. To give greater context to this issue, it is important to look through the lens of biopolitics – which is the intersection of biology and politics. During this podcast, Maciek meets with Andrey Makarychev, visiting professor at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies in Tartu Estonia and co-author of the book “Critical Biopolitics of the Post-Soviet: From Populations to Nations”.Resources:Critical Biopolitics of the Post-Soviet, By Andrey Makarychev and Alexandra Yatsyk: https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Biopolitics-Post-Soviet-Populations-Nations-ebook/dp/B081XGNLF9 “River and fog instead of fence and radars: guarding Lithuania’s easternmost border”, by Gytis Pankūnas and Justinas Stacevičius. New Eastern Europe, 30 August 2021. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/08/30/river-an-fog-instead-of-fence-and-radars-guarding-lithuanias-easternmost-border/ Gone with the virus. How the pandemic makes Russian strategy evanescent, by Andrey Makarychev. New Eastern Europe issue 4/2020: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/07/07/gone-with-the-virus-how-the-pandemic-makes-russian-strategy-evanescent/ Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Groups/TalkEasternEuropeTalk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeIn this episode, Talk Eastern Europe returns to Central Europe and discusses recent political developments in Hungary. Following Viktor Orbán’s debut on American prime time with his interview with Tucker Carlson, Adam catches up with Ferenc Laczo, a political and intellectual historian at Maastricht University, and an editor with the CEU’s Review of Democracy. They explore Orbán’s attempts to build himself as a leader of right-wing politics, the current situation in the country, and what might we expect ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.ResourcesLegacy of Division: East and West after 1989 https://www.eurozine.com/about-eurozine/print-series/ RevDem podcasts https://democracyinstitute.ceu.edu/revdem-podcasts Check out our exclusive Zoom discussion (for patrons only) with Szabolsc Panyi on Hungarian media: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tee-patron-zoom-47909846 Women protests in Belarus, online discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I4--qNTdi4 Political system in Belarus, online discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPcCmV7eqzU&t >>>>> Check out the newest issue of the magazine on Belarus here: https://bit.ly/3kd5OGN

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeIn this episode, Adam and Maciek get back to Ukraine and discuss recent developments in Ukraine’s foreign policy, including Nord Stream 2, the Crimea Platform and President Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States. The episode features Adam’s interview with Ukrainian expert Anna Korbut to further analyze these developments and what might come next for the country.Resources:“The Crimea Platform as a new approach to a seven-year-old problem: By: Adam Reichardt, New Eastern Europe, 24 August 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/08/24/the-crimea-platform-as-a-new-approach-to-a-seven-year-old-problem/ “The Crimean Platform: possible light in the hybrid tunnel”. By: Christine Karelska and Pavlo Vugelman, New Eastern Europe, 24 August 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/08/23/the-crimean-platform-possible-light-in-the-hybrid-tunnel/ “Mr Zelenskyy goes to Washington” by: Vladyslav Faraponov. New Eastern Europe, 1 September 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/09/01/mr-zelenskyy-goes-to-washington/TEE Episode 52: Nord Stream 2 and pipeline politics: https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-52Nord Stream 2. Strictly business or wider threat? By: Mykola Voytiv, New Eastern Europe, Issue 4 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/06/23/nord-stream-2-strictly-business-or-wider-threat/ >>>>> Check out the newest issue of the magazine on Belarus here: https://bit.ly/3kd5OGNAnd listen to our special audio documentary on Belarus: https://bit.ly/2HQRVO4

*** Support this podcast! Become a Patron here: www.patreon.com/talkeasterneuropeWe are back after a short summer break and just released a new episode. In this episode we come back to Georgia and discuss the situation there after the collapse of the EU-negotiated deal earlier this year and ahead of local elections in the fall. For the discussion, Adam sits down with Soso Dzamukashvili, a policy analyst and researcher focusing on political developments in Central and Eastern Europe. Resources:“What is really behind Ivanishvili’s decision to quit politics” Soso Dzamukashvili, New Eastern Europe issue 3/2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/what-is-really-behind-ivanishvilis-decision-to-quit-politics/Georgia’s argument over ‘Michel’ is finished, at least for now, Archil Sikharulidze, New Eastern Europe 16 August 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/08/16/georgias-argument-over-michel-is-finished-at-least-for-now/ “Crisis spiral in Georgia and Moldova – commonalty, distinctions and ways out” Denis Cenusa, 8 March 2021: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/03/08/crisis-spiral-in-georgia-and-moldova-commonalty-distinctions-and-ways-out/ Talk Eastern Europe 66: “Political turbulence shakes Georgia” https://www.spreaker.com/user/talkeasterneurope/tee-66 Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this special episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Adam and Maciek have a conversation with Maria Kobielska, a memory scholar and assistant professor at the Department of Anthropology of Literature and Cultural Research at the Jagiellonian Univeristy in Kraków Poland. She is also the co-founder of the Research Center for Memory Cultures at the University.This episode is being produced within the framework of the project titled “Contested Histories Onsite”, a project which aims to place Europeans in discussions and debates on multiple historical perspectives and to activate citizens in public involvement of memory-constructions. As part of the EU’s Europe for Citizens programme, the project’s aspiration is rooted in a shared conviction that raising critical questions about the past is fundamental for citizens to develop a critical attitude towards the narratives that are competing with each other in contemporary politics.For more information on the project visit:-Contested Histories Onsite: https://contestedhistories.org/onsite/-Memory Studies Association: https://www.memorystudiesassociation.org/contested-histories-onsite/-EuroClio: https://www.euroclio.eu/project/contested-histories/Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum Online: https://www.1944.pl/en/article/the-warsaw-rising-museum,4516.html>>> Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod >>> Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this special podcast episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Maciek and Adam are joined by Roman Washchuk, the former Canadian ambassador to Ukraine (2014-2019). They discuss the challenges Ukraine faces, look at the recent NATO summit and analyze Western support for Ukraine’s reforms. The conversation ends with a short reflection on the situation in Belarus.Check out the latest issue of New Eastern Europe on Ukraine now available at www.neweasterneurope.eu Read also:“Ukrainian NATO membership: Realistic or a diplomatic tool?” by: Maryna Parfenchuk, New Eastern Europe, June 25 2021, https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/06/25/ukrainian-nato-membership-realistic-or-a-diplomatic-tool/ >> In case you missed our online event titled: “All Quiet on the Eastern Flank? Reflections after the June 2021 NATO Summit” you can watch it online here: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/06/17/all-quiet-on-the-eastern-flank-reflections-after-the-june-2021-nato-summit/ Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this special episode produced ahead of the NATO Summit, Adam and Maciek take a look at the context of the event scheduled for June 14th 2021 – the first Summit with the participation of Joe Biden as US President. Later, Adam sits down with Alice Stollmeyer, the Founder and Executive Director of Defend Democracy - an independent, nonpartisan, transatlantic initiative aimed at defending democracy from internal, external and technological threats. They discuss issues on the Transatlantic agenda as well as the current and future challenges that face the Alliance.Please check out and support Alice’s organization: www.defenddemocracy.eu Other articles to check out:“We need to talk about Russia, again,” by: Wojciech Michnik. New Eastern Europe 19 May 2021. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/05/19/we-need-to-talk-about-russia-again/ “Closing the window of opportunity for Russia?” By: Silvie Leštinská. New Eastern Europe 7 June 2021. https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/06/07/closing-the-window-of-opportunity-for-russia/ Production of this podcast episode is part of a wider project called “All Quiet on the Eastern Flank?” which is conducted by New Eastern Europe and supported by a grant from NATO Public Diplomacy. Learn more at: www.neweasterneurope.eu Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope This episode brings us back to Estonia with an interview with Kristina Kallas, a political scientist and the leader of Eesti 200 liberal political party. Ahead of the autumn local elections, political divisions are sharp in this northern Baltic state. However Kallas hopes her vision for a renewed political agenda can help change this trend. She also discusses the important situation with the Russian minority in the country and how it has evolved over the past 30 years. Read Kallas’s latest essay from the April-May issue of New Eastern Europe. “Russians in Estonia. We are not ‘them’, we are ‘us’”: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/04/11/russians-in-estonia-we-are-not-them-we-are-us/Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope

*** Support Talk Eastern Europe. Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/TalkEasternEurope In this special episode of Talk Eastern Europe, Maciek sits down with Dmytro Khutkyy an expert on digital democracy and open governance. They discuss how different countries approach digital democracy, what are some advantages and also pitfalls of digitizing our public sector. The main context for the conversation was the release of a recent online study called the “Digital Democracy Database”. This project is designed to identify and analyse cases of digital democracy aspiring to consolidate global democracy by discovering and sharing good practices of open participatory governance worldwide. It is intended as a source of data for scholars, policy analysts, civic activists, politicians, and other interested parties.Learn more about the Digital Democracy Database: https://europeandigital.org/digital-democracy-database Lear more about our guest, Dmytro Khutkyy: https://www.khutkyy.com/ Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/talkeasterneurope Talk Eastern Europe is a member of the EuroPod network. Check it out here: https://www.bullemedia.eu/europod