Press release

Central Europe at its Most Vulnerable Since 1989

15.05.2018
Central Europer Map Image

While Central Europe is flourishing more than it ever has in the memory of its citizens, the region is nevertheless at its most geopolitically vulnerable since the end of the Cold War. That’s just one of the key findings of GLOBSEC Megatrends 2018.

Directly informed by the research activities of the GLOBSEC Policy Institute, GLOBSEC Megatrends identifies seven key trends that will be the most important determinants of the future of the West and Central Europe. These are:

  • Central and Eastern Europe is at its most geopolitically vulnerable in decades. It feels like the halcyon days of the post-Cold War world are well and truly over
  • Flexible European integration is becoming reality
  • More and more countries are losing faith in multilateralism, just when we need it most
  • The West is increasingly challenged by revisionist powers and ideological adversaries. Some of these are already on our doorsteps
  • Global security relations are increasingly confrontational and could get worse
  • Ungoverned cyber space has become an alluring setting for global conflict
  • Technologies that we take for granted are increasingly weaponised to achieve insidious political goals

“From an increasingly fractured global landscape to technologies that both help and hinder societal progress, Central European perspectives are often overlooked on the world stage,’’ says Jakub Wiśniewski, Vice President of GLOBSEC & Director of the GLOBSEC Policy Institute. “We’re determined to change this for the better.”

“GLOBSEC Megatrends 2018 is more than just a reflection of the work of the GLOBSEC Policy Institute. The trends that we have identified are impacting Central and Eastern Europe and further afield right now. By sidelining the region, the rest of the World potentially misses out on hearing innovative and long-lasting solutions. It’s time to strengthen Central Europe’s presence in international fora.”

‘’We’re all about building momentum at GLOBSEC, and GLOBSEC Megatrends certainly adds to our recent efforts to shape international agendas and opinion,’’ says GLOBSEC President Róbert Vass. ‘’Last year we presented the findings of our NATO Adaptation Initiative to senior NATO officials. We’re also working renowned experts on our crime-terror nexus project. And it’s all been well-received by international media outlets. We also want this for GLOBSEC Megatrends.”

GLOBSEC looks forward to officially unveiling Megatrends 2018 at the upcoming Bratislava Forum, where guests include leading policymakers and inspirational figures from the fields of business, technology, development and the non-governmental sector. We are determined to make our newest research project a permanent fixture of the debates surrounding international policy, economics, technology and society.

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