Lectures

by Dr. Reza Parchizadeh Abstract: For more than a decade, the Islamist regime in Iran has been facing mounting domestic and international crises that in most likelihood it won’t be able to withstand in the long run. This will eventually force the regime to consider a “metamorphosis” not unlike the one that the former Soviet communist system had to undergo to partly survive. While Russia reverted to ultranationalism from communism, Iran, based on increasing evidence, is likely to revert to the same from Islamism. My prediction is that if Iranian democratic forces are not able to create a unified pluralistic front, and if the US and the rest of the …

By Benjamin Tallis, German Council on Foreign Relations The mantra of Western unity in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine conceals a major schism. On one side are politicians and societies that embrace a new hard-edged, forward-looking idealism in (geo)politics. On the other, disregarding nativists and populists, are two groups: the first, like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, seem stuck in the recent past, clinging to the untenable (Neo-)Liberal Internationalist status quo ante bellum; the second, like French President Emmanuel Macron, sometimes appear too eager to put the ‘great game’ of power politics ahead of liberal and democratic ordering.   The new idealism’s standard-bearers include Estonian and Finnish Prime Ministers Kaja …

By Theresa Fallon The impact of Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine has accelerated China-Russian cooperation in the field of energy, maritime security and space. The lengthy war has also had the unintended consequence of potentially weakening the Kremlin’s position in Central Asia, while some frozen conflicts are defrosting in Europe’s neighborhood. Putin’s choices have made Russia a much weaker partner in the Sino-Russian relationship with one analyst describing Russia as a vassal state to the People’s Republic of China. What do these shifting geopolitical developments mean for Europe? (Without subtitles) (With subtitles)

Jo Zayner   In May of 2020, only a few months after the covid outbreak was declared, I created and manufactured an open source covid vaccine and I administered it to myself. I never got sick. It took over a year from the time covid-19 shutdown the world till a vaccine was publicly available and in that time millions died. In fact, many are still dying due to lack of vaccine rollout and people’s dependence on governmental organizations to feel secure has been in vain. Experts predict that during our lifetime we will face another global pandemic. How do you plan to survive?  (Without subtitles) (With subtitles)

  Schoresch Davoodi   A Revolution in making? The current events in Iran and its consequences The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently in a series of crises. The Islamic government in Tehran has faced more challenges since the end of the war with Iraq in 1988. Insecurity and the inability to respond to these crises only exacerbate the problems it has created itself. In addition, the world is changing and the year 2023 needs different answers than recipes and slogans from a bygone era. The current protests in Iran are currently supported by broad sections of the population than was the case in the past. In contrast to the …

by Alexis Roussel Every human evolves today in multi-dimensional physical and digital environment. If each individual is to keep its individuality and autonomy in its daily choices, it must be protected and given effective tools to defend its own autonomy. Recognizing that human life has been digitally extended must question ourselves on what makes us human today. Should personal data be considered as component of the person, rather than objects that can be owned by whoever collects that data? Should our digital integrity be protected? If each human person already has a right to physical and mental integrity (Swiss Constitution article 10 al.2), shouldn’t it have a right to digital …

by Kurt Klein In current security research, drones are regarded and treated as a mobile means of information retrieval. They are not seen as a threat. However, in many conflicts, they are now a phenomenon that can hardly be controlled.

Helping to Leave was launched on February 24th — the day when Russia invaded Ukraine. We help people evacuate from areas of military conflict. Our mission is to keep people safe and meet their immediate needs. Our team works 24/7 providing consultations to those seeking help, guiding them through the evacuation process, and connecting them to the volunteers on the ground for all humanitarian needs. We cover transport expenses, provide information, and arrange for counselling where necessary. We help Ukrainians affected by war – also those who were forcibly deported to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or to Russia. Within the first few weeks of the war in Ukraine, …