Moderator Isabelle Casel Speakers Hauke Ritz Thomas Fazi Prof. Dragana Mitrović Georges Renard-Kuzmanovic First Commentator Walter Komarek Held in Istanbul on 26 September, the East-West Forum brought together leading academics, analysts, diplomats and journalists from different regions of the world. Hosted by Harici Media and jointly organised with the European Transcontinental Initiative (ETI), the Forum explored the changing global order, emerging security challenges and the risks posed by escalating geopolitical tensions. The event also aimed to create a new platform for dialogue across different regions, political traditions and perspectives. The third panel centred on how Europe can position itself as an independent actor in a multipolar world and on what foundations it can build its strategic autonomy. Speakers examined Europe’s transatlantic relations, opportunities for cooperation with Eurasia, Asia, BRICS and the Global South, trade and energy links, and the pursuit of digital sovereignty in relation to US-based technology companies. Other key topics included the future of Europe’s traditions of humanism, the Enlightenment, labour movements and the mixed economy; the openness of institutions, the media and universities to alternative ideas; and the social implications of artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. You can watch the full third panel of the East-West Forum in this video.

"If the question is raised here in the seminar as to whether there is a contribution to the new world order, then it will certainly not come from the European Union." With this assessment, Member of the European Parliament (BSW) and former UN diplomat Michael von der Schulenburg describes the role of the EU in the emerging multipolar world order. His keynote speech took place as part of Panel Discussion II, "The Global Order in Transition: Risks of War and Foundations of Peace," at the East-West Forum in Istanbul on September 26, 2026.

Von der Schulenburg paints a grim picture of the EU: "I would characterize the European Union today as an organization that is in complete denial of reality (…) – and therefore completely incapable of shaping any policy." Europe, he said, is surrounded by wars and conflicts, has few natural resources compared to the major world powers, suffers from high energy prices, demographic problems, and increasing deindustrialization. Meanwhile, even the European social system is at stake.

Alex Krainer returns to discuss his argument that British imperial power survives through international banking networks. With Pascal Lottaz, he examines Yugoslavia’s breakup, Bosnia’s political tensions, and competing British and American interests. Their conversation traces debt, oil concessions, and corporate finance as mechanisms of wealth extraction, including the case of Enrico Mattei. They also debate technological control, artificial intelligence, and public attitudes toward Russia, before considering whether independent media and growing public awareness offer grounds for optimism and renewed sovereignty. Alex's Links: Alex Krainer’s Substack: https://alexkrainer.substack.com

The War-Hysteria in Europe is not accidental. It has been prepared and seeded in the continent's population for a long time through war narratives, propoaganda and actual cognitive warfare plans. Today I speak with Dr. Jonas Tögel, a German propaganda researcher and author. We discuss war messaging in Europe, German military outreach in schools, youth resistance, NATO narratives, the role of the US and EU, the collapse of antiwar politics, and the way propaganda, fear, and media overload shape public opinion. They also discuss public resistance, self-care, and keeping a peace movement alive.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuLphz6YVv3rb144FD14xZQ

New book announcement “The Brussels Empire: The EU’s Secret Coup Against Democracy”, Thomas Fazi (LINK to his substack), Sep 20, 2026 - I’m delighted to announce the upcoming publication of my new book, The Brussels Empire: The EU’s Secret Coup Against Democracy, which I consider to be the ultimate distillation my decade-and-a-half of work on the EU. The book will be published in late October by the wonderful German publishing house Westend — and for now will be available only in German. I’m still looking for an English-language publisher so if you know any publishers who are interested in EU- and NATO-critical views, let me know.

I just received this great quote from renowned German sociologist Wolfgang Streeck:

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on October 5 in Emden, that Germany will construct a new military naval base in Emden on the North Sea, following Wilhelmshaven. - Peace activists (around 30 of them) of the region protested at the location ""An der Knock" on October 5 against these plans, demanding instead to develop the civil port and the civil business sector of the city.

 The facility will feature berths for frigates, minesweepers, and tugs, with operations expected to begin in the early 2030s. This decision is linked to fleet expansion and perceived threats in the Baltic and North Seas. The port aims to enhance fleet resilience and serve as an alternative to Wilhelmshaven. 

Germany’s National Day third of October 2026 sees large protests against the government’s foreign policy in Berlin and Stuttgart.

Michael Riches and Dennis Riches share some thoughts on the 2026 Penang Peace Dialogue, organized by the Commonwealth of World Chinatowns. Recorded in Penang, Malaysia on September 8, 2026.

Organised by the Commonwealth of World Chinatowns, the gathering included Kishore Mahbubani, Victor Gao, Joanna Lei, Jomo K. Sundaram, and even former Indonesian president Joko Widodo. Jeffrey Sachs joined remotely. These were people familiar with governments, universities, and international institutions, hence their criticism of Pax Americana came with considerable experience of how that order operates.

More: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/p/beyond-pax-americana-what-penang?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2735407&post_id=215934330&utm