Room for Discussion

With war at its doorstep, Türkiye is once again in the middle of geopolitical turmoil. Whether it’s the Syrian refugee crisis, the war in Gaza, or the closure of the strait of Hormuz, Türkiye has had to consistently re-balance and re-negotiate its partnerships. Turkish Ambassador H.E. Fatma Ceren Yazgan will join us to talk about how Türkiye does this in practice. With a long career as a high ranking diplomat and civil servant, she offers firsthand experience into the complexities of Turkish politics.

Germany has been Europe’s economic engine for quite some time, both its industrial powerhouse and fiscal anchor in times of deep uncertainty. While Southern Europe suffered deep recessions during the Eurocrisis, Germany maintained low unemployment and a massive trade surplus. After 5 years of economic stagnation induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, that role is now under strain. In a conversation with Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research, we examine whether Germany can still fulfill that role or whether structural pressures are permanently reshaping its role within Europe. As its export-driven model comes under strain and fiscal constraints limit large-scale investment, a key question emerges: Will Germany continue to be the economic engine Europe can look up to?

The relationship between the Netherlands and South Africa stretches back centuries, shaped by both painful history and meaningful cooperation. It includes dark chapters, such as the Netherlands’ role in using South Africa as part of the slave trade, but also moments of solidarity, including the Netherlands’ early opposition to apartheid and its current position as one of South Africa’s key economic partners. To explore this complex and evolving relationship, we will be joined by Joanne Doornewaard. As an experienced diplomat, she will help unpack the history, tensions, and opportunities that continue to define this important partnership. How have Dutch interests in South Africa changed over time? What do South Africa’s alignments within BRICS mean for the future of bilateral relations? And in an increasingly transactional geopolitical landscape, what would it take to build a relationship that is genuinely cooperative? Join us on 6 May at the E-Hall for a timely conversation on the past, present, and future of Dutch–South African relations.

What happens when wealth does not just buy comfort, but an entirely different reality? When power does not mean responsibility anymore, but the option to escape all consequences? When ambition turns into status anxiety? From rural China to billionaire bunkers, Evan Osnos gets up close to people, telling bigger stories through human details. These stories trace how pursuit, aspiration and prosperity evolve in radically different systems at a time of widening inequality and political shifts. The New Yorker journalist and author Evan Osnos will discuss with us the intersection of ambition, power and inequality in the E-Hall on Tuesday, April 13th, from 13:00-14:00.

While the way we live has changed a lot in the last few years, the way we learn has remained largely the same. Our education systems have stagnated, relying on inflexible grading systems and standardized tests, as they need to conform to the demands of the job market. Is now the time for academia to adapt and implement a more holistic approach to learning? Professor Lars Strannegård, president of the Stockholm School of Economics and author of Senses of Knowing: A Celebration of the Pursuit of Knowledge, argues that it is. He has long advocated for a change in the way we are educated. Instead of receiving a highly specialised ‘training’, he argues that education should be understood as ‘cultivation’, striving to shape well-rounded and responsible citizens equipped to face an increasingly complex world.Join Professor Strannegård and us to explore how incorporating the arts & humanities into other disciplines can foster critical thinking and prepare our educational systems for the age of AI.