In this episode of Embrace Democracy – Reflections from the European Neighborhood, we speak with Professor Giselle Bosse and Zine Labidine Ghebouli about the resilience of authoritarian and hybrid regimes—and the protest movements and civil society actors that challenge them.

Drawing on case studies from Algeria, Serbia, Belarus, and Lebanon, our guests explore the concept of blockage elites— powerful actors who actively resist democratisation. We examine the tools they use to maintain control, from repression, propaganda and identity politics to international economic ties.

But there are also sparks of hope: protest movements successfully engaging with elites in Algeria, coalitions built across social groups, and vibrant opposition organising in exile in Belarus. Our guests discuss when and how democratic openings emerge, and why local ownership and strategic coalition-building are crucial for lasting change.

If this or any other episode in the series resonates with you, please share it, subscribe, and leave us a review. You can find more information on the project and additional resources and our publications on our website: www.embrace-democracy.eu. If you would like to get in touch, you can reach us at embrace@berghof-foundation.org.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on 11 September 2025. The statements made in this podcast are the speakers’ own and don’t reflect the EMBRACE consortium’s position.

Links to the recommendations made in the episode:

Frantz Fanon’s writings

Hannah Arendt – The origins of totaliarism

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In this episode of EMBRACE Democracy, we explore what happens when democracy promotion becomes part of a global power struggle.

Our guests, Ana Mikautadze from Georgia and Ana Krstinovska from North Macedonia, bring deep regional knowledge to the table. As members of the EMBRACE consortium, they have studied how EU democracy support is shaped – and sometimes undermined – by geopolitical competition with actors like Russia and China. We discuss the tools used by these competing powers, how they interact with local politics, and what this means for the EU’s future as a democracy promoter.

Notes:

This episode was recorded on 10 July 2025.

Links to the recommendations made in the episode:

Liu Cixin – The Three-Body Problem

Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson – Why Nations Fail

James Robinson on Why Nations Fail

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In this episode of EMBRACE Democracy, we bring together two voices from regions currently at the heart of global attention: Gaza and Ukraine. Our guests, Omar Shaban and Tetiana Kyselova – both members of the EMBRACE consortium – are researchers, practitioners, and advocates for peace and democratic transformation.

Together, they explore how people continue to engage in democratic action despite violence and uncertainty, what lessons can be drawn from the ground, and how the EU is perceived – and could play a more constructive role – in these contexts.

Notes:

This episode was recorded on 10 July 2025.

Links to the recommendations made in the episode:

Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi – The Nature of Despotism

Roger Fisher and William Uri – Getting to Yes

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