Discussing the EU and Russia’s “soft power” in the Baltic States and the Eastern Neighbourhood

  • 2015-05-18
  • TBT Staff

On May 18 at the Astor Hotel in Riga (Z. Meierovica Blvd. 10), the Latvian Institute of International Affairs (LIIA) organizes a public discussion and a presentation of the book “Different Faces of ‘Soft Power’: The Baltic States and Eastern Neighbourhood Between Russia and the EU”. 

The main aim of the discussion is to reflect, first, on the transformation of the concept of the “soft power” and on how on-going events in and around Ukraine have reinforced the importance of the information space. Second, it will also discuss current developments in Russia’s and EU’s policies and how these are perceived in the Baltic States and Eastern Partners / Black Sea Region.

The keynote address at the event will be delivered by Lolita Čigāne (Parliament of Latvia), while the debate will feature Rafal Sadowski (Centre for Eastern Studies, Poland), Andris Sprūds (Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Latvia), Iryna Klymenko (Institute for Strategic Studies “New Ukraine”, Ukraine), Emmet Tuohy (International Centre for Defence and Security, Estonia), Jakub Korejba (Centre for International Journalism and Research, Russia), and Andis Kudors (Centre for East European Policy Studies, Latvia). The discussion will be moderated by Mārtiņš Daugulis (Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Latvia).

The event is dedicated to the presentation of the book of the same name, which examines projection of “soft power” by the EU and Russia, having a special focus on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia among the EU’s Eastern Partners. It also examines the experience of the Baltic States, which, despite being full-fledged members of the EU, still remain an area of interaction and contestation. The book will be freely available at the event.

The livestream video of the event will be available to watch here.