Pluralise that geopolitics: Unpacking the interaction between democracy and geopolitics

• Florence School of Transnational Governance

The STG Talks, held weekly, serve as a space for discussion for the STG community and beyond. Led by the STG Fellows, the talks are a place for informal learning and exchange on global issues affecting different areas of policymaking.

This STG Talk will explore the interactions between democracy and geopolitics in the emerging political order. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the already active anti-vaccination movement rode the resulting wave of uncertainty and confusion. Its pan-European mobilisation, propped up by Russian, American and other resources, percolated into national and European politics beyond public health. This is just one instance where associations of concerned actors looking to influence decisions on key issues are having an increasing impact on politics and policies within and between states.

On the other side of the coin, democratic states around the world (we acknowledge that no state can be considered democratic with a capital D ) are investing both economic resources and power with the stated objectives of enhancing military and economic security around the world; strengthening democratic institutions and norms of transnational governance; and increasing their influence and standing in the emerging world order. 

This talk will explore the geopolitical resources associations of concerned actors leverage to influence policy and politics; and interrogate the concept of Democratic Geopolitics from the point of view of more or less democratic states. The aim is to increase our understanding of the current dynamics between democracy and geopolitics at national and transnational level.

Discussants:

• Kalypso Nicolaidis, Chair in International Affairs EUI School of Transnational Governance
• Daiva Repeckaite, Policy Leader Fellow

Moderator:

• Elizabeth Maloba, Policy Leader Fellow

Please note this is an in-person event. No zoom link will be provided upon registration.