🗓 When: October 15, 4:45 PM–6:30 PM
📍 Where: Warsaw (exact location will be provided after registration)
We invite you to the Ideas Bank discussion on the future of authoritarian regimes, the challenges for Western democracies, and potential scenarios for political change in Belarus and Europe.
Together with renowned American journalist Anne Applebaum and lawyer and former political prisoner Maksim Znak, we will discuss how authoritarianism is evolving in the modern world, whether democracies can effectively counter its growth, and how Western countries should build relations with authoritarian regimes while balancing pragmatic interests with democratic values.
Special attention will be given to Belarus and Russia: are political changes possible in these countries, how might the end of the war in Ukraine influence them, and what role can the West play in these processes? When can engagement with authoritarian regimes yield results, what risks does it create, and how can democracies defend their long-term strategic interests?
The event will be conducted in English without interpretation.
Speakers:
- Anne Applebaum — American historian, author, journalist, and Pulitzer Prize winner
- Maksim Znak — PhD in Law, lawyer, human rights defender, and former political prisoner
Moderator:
- Anton Radniankou — Chairman of the Board at the Center for New Ideas
Program:
- 4:45 PM — Guest arrival and check-in
- 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM — Discussion featuring Anne Applebaum and Maksim Znak, followed by Q&A with the audience
- 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM — Reception / Networking
Seats are limited! Registration is required via the link. We will send a confirmation email with the exact location one day before the event.