Lectures

    Mikuláš Peksa           Russian attack against Ukraine brought European Union, one of the biggest economic powerhouses of our world, to a war. Struggle for our borders and integrity has begun. How is our “war economy” performing? And do we even have a war economy?

Alex Kohler   examines the evolving landscape of drone warfare and analyzes the anticipated advancements that will shape its future. The technological, strategic, and ethical dimensions are presented and illuminated.

  Prof. Dr. Florian Gallwitz         will discuss a major question in AI: Are large language models like ChatGPT simply tools that replicate patterns, or can they learn and understand the world like humans do? He will examine various perspectives and the latest research on this topic. The talk will also explore how these developments in language model technology might impact security issues and the spread of false information. Unfortunately, the first 10 minutes were not recorded due to a misunderstanding. We regret this error.

      Alexis Roussel         Following the adoption of the Right to Digital integrity in the Geneva Constitution in 2023, several other Swiss cantons are in the process of introducing it. At its core, the Right to Digital integrity enables a change of the burden of proof regarding the harm done on personal data in favor of the individual. But the adoption of the Right to Digital integrity also raises questions regarding its enforcement. The presentation will demonstrate how a Right to Anonymity is a natural extension of the Right to digital integrity and necessary for its enforcement.

      Grit Friedrich         Why is there a perceived higher affinity with Russia in East Germany? Some months before elections in eastern federal states, Pro-Russian parties are leading the polls. Grit Friedrich, a former GDR civil rights advocate, suggests that one factor is a correlation between the unresolved traumas of the Soviet occupation and the strong conditioning of GDR citizens to the state doctrine of that time – which can also make subsequent generations more susceptible to Russian subversion due to unconsciously transmitted traumas.  By comparing East Germany with other states and territories of the former Warsaw Pact, the mechanisms can be understood in a …

  Sara “Beau” Hjalmarsson:       In her presentation titled “How to Turn Your Grandmom Into a Terrorist,” she shows how the digital world has made it cheaper and easier for extremists and criminals to recruit people. Contemporary strategies are so subtle that even the most innocent can be both targeted and successfully radicalized. In this talk, Sara Hjalmarsson looks at how radicalization works in our digital world, the traps we can fall into when combating it, and what policymakers, law enforcement and citizens need to do differently to effectively fight this problem.

    Aaron Gasch Burnett     BerlinsideOut Special Episode The keynote will be followed by a special live episode for BerlinsideOut, the podcast that takes an expert look at international politics from Berlin – and this time from Munich. Co-Hosts Benjamin Tallis and Aaron Gasch Burnett will build on the previous keynote to discuss “Zeitenwende”, grand strategy, and Neo-Idealism. They will address questions by the audience. [Additional guests TBD] Aaron Gasch Burnett, a journalist specializing in German politics, we look at how Germany sees the world and the world sees Germany.

  Anastasiya Shapochkina             The Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted evolving geopolitical dynamics with China over the past decade, which is disrupting regional and global balance of powers. Since Western sanctions following Russia’s Crimea annexation in 2014, Russia and China have developed comprehensive cooperation in economics, finance, technology, and defense. From a geo-economic perspective, China has exploited Russia’s isolation to deepen Moscow’s dependence on Beijing in energy and AI. This maneuver enhances China’s geopolitical influence while keeping ties to the West. A growing China-Russia coordination in the UN Security Council challenges the rules-based international order. In the US-China relationship, Russia plays a wildcard role, …