Geopolitical shifts: crisis or opportunity for democracy?

Amid an increasingly unstable global landscape, countries across Europe and Central Asia are being tested, as they find themselves navigating the impact of complex and evolving geopolitical shifts.

Russia’s full scale war in Ukraine is now into its fourth year, and rising authoritarian tendencies in several countries are resulting in the closing in of civic space and contributing to a significant jump in the number of people forced into exile. At the same time, the unpredictable leadership of the United States under President Trump, particularly in relation to foreign policy, is adding further instability. It appears that the crises facing established and emerging democracies are only expanding.

In this mini-series, the John Smith Trust has partnered with the Foreign Policy Centre to explore not only the crises, but also the potential opportunities offered by the current climate, through the perspective of seven John Smith Fellows from Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan and Russia, as well as Baroness Suttie, John Smith Trust board member.

The future of leadership

Their contributions emerged from our recent event in Montenegro, where participants came together to examine fundamental questions around power, history, and the future of leadership in the region. Discussions centred on how to challenge dominant geopolitical narratives and power relationships, and what forms of leadership are needed to build more accountable, inclusive, and sustainable societies.

This series captures their insights and reflections, offering diverse perspectives on how to move beyond crisis and towards opportunity in pursuit of a fairer and more peaceful future for the region.

You can read the articles on the Foreign Policy Centre’s website.