Lectures 2026

          Marcus Welsch Knowledge, strategy, resilience: the question of resistance to Russia s air war Russia’s air campaign has tested the limits of modern air defense, challenging the strategic, operational, and societal resilience of affected nations. This session explores the complex question of resisting Russia’s air war—examining how intelligence, strategy, and adaptive planning can shape effective responses. Participants will gain insights into the lessons learned from current conflicts, the role of technological innovation, and the critical importance of resilient institutions and trained personnel in defending national airspace.  

Mark Reicher analyzes the current global situation and assesses key geopolitical developments. The lecture highlights global power shifts, international conflicts, and their interactions—and explains how these interrelationships influence politics, security, and society worldwide.

Sara “Beau” Hjalmarsson   Responding to weaponized radicalization in hybrid warfare: a practical talk in 2 parts: Part 1 (theory and “big picture” policy responses): Weaponized radicalization and policy responses. Part 2 (individual solutions): Individual responses in a world of weaponized radicalization-based global order is under attack as authoritarian tendencies and radicalization increases. This talk delves into how radicalization is being weaponized as part of hybrid warfare and what we can do about it. In the first part of this talk, we’ll look at how radicalization works, how it is used in hybrid warfare and how public policy can be used to fight it. In the second part of this …

Philippe Burger, aka “Pipo” Digitalization and artificial intelligence are fundamentally reshaping society, comparable to the transformative impact of the Industrial Revolution. New future ideologies are emerging that redefine how we think about work, power, freedom, and responsibility. This topic explores the worldviews, values, and societal narratives arising from technological change—and how they may shape the future of our societies.

Dietmar Pichler The long-term effects of ideological subversion: why we lack democratic resilience in the West. Democratic institutions in the West appear strong, yet increasingly fragile. This session explores how decades of externally driven ideological subversion have shaped public discourse, weakened trust, and eroded democratic resilience—and why liberal societies struggle to recognize and respond effectively to this form of attack today.  

Schoresch Davoodi Is a New Revolution Brewing in Iran? Digital Repression, Internet Blackouts, and the Fight for Freedom in the Age of Hybrid Authoritarianism In recent months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has intensified its digital repression tactics, including prolonged nationwide internet shutdowns, blocking of satellite services, and targeted surveillance to crush dissent. These measures are part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy employed by the regime to maintain control amid growing internal protests and international pressure. This talk examines whether Iran is on the verge of a new revolutionary wave—building on the 2022–2023. Woman, Life, Freedom uprising—and analyzes the critical role of digital infrastructure in both oppression and resistance. …

          Dr. Reza Parchizadeh, PhD (@DrParchizadeh), Iran is experiencing a deep political and societal crisis driven by state repression, human rights violations, and growing resistance against authoritarian rule. This talk provides an up-to-date analysis of the current situation in Iran, examining internal power dynamics, the role of civil society, and the broader regional and international implications. Now other Powers coming to help.  

Marie Ishimwe Kresbach Author of the book “Stand up, my child, and go!” Survivor of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. She has been living in Germany since 1994, after losing her family in the horrific genocide. Christian, married, mother of one daughter. She fights against injustice because she has experienced injustice firsthand. Topic: Witness to the genocide against the Tutsi – book presentation and discussion on how Rwanda has developed since the events.    

      Alexis Roussel         A story where a French social movement, meets cypherpunk and pirate values.

Alexander Kohler Artificial intelligence marks a societal transformation of historic scale—comparable to the Industrial Revolution. It is fundamentally reshaping work, social roles, power structures, and economic systems. This talk examines the social impact of AI, draws parallels to past transformations, and asks how societies can navigate this change in a resilient, fair, and democratic way.