East and Southeast Europe
The Regional Office FNF ESEE covers 23 countries in East and Southeast Europe. The Regional Office in Sofia coordinates the following Project Offices in the region: Bulgaria and North Macedonia, Romania and Moldova, Western Balkans, Ukraine, South Caucasus and Türkiye.
News
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How to Become a Tyrant: The Populist Playbook
How can modern populists transform democracies into authoritarian regimes? In the “Populist Playbook” Sven Gerst examines the real threats posed by contemporary populists, contrasting them with historical tyrants. He outlines how populists identify societal grievances, polarize communities, and centralize power, ultimately undermining democratic institutions and consolidating control.
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Liberal Communicators Network: Brain Science and Hope Theory for Effective Social Change
How can brain science and hope help you drive social change? Discover why showing solutions—not just problems—makes all the difference. Watch our new video from the Liberal Communicators Network!
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Interview with Freed Prisoner of Conscience: Andrei Pivovarov
Andrei Pivovarov describes his harrowing imprisonment, from being pulled off a flight to enduring years of isolation. Despite the hardship, his commitment to democracy and human rights remained unbroken.
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Liberal Communicators Network (LCN): Non-Profit Academy 2025
The LCN-Non-Profit Academy will empower liberal communicators to adapt cutting-edge communication strategies, innovation, and marketing trends for the specific context of the mission-driven sector. Apply by April 21, join this professional community of non-profit communicators from civil society organizations, foundations, think tanks, change-makers, working on liberal topics in Europe. By innovating non-profit communications, liberals will be better equipped to win the hearts and minds, influence shifts in values and behaviour.
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Navalny: A Year Later
One year after Alexei Navalny's assassination, his vision of fighting corruption and free elections remains alive. His courage continues to inspire as the Russian opposition searches for new paths.
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Networks of Power: Russia’s Shadow Influence in Germany
Despite efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy, Germany remains vulnerable to Russian influence. Deep networks and political entanglements continue to threaten the country’s independence.
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Understanding Populism vs. Authoritarianism: Why the Distinction Matters
Is Donald Trump a dictator? What differentiates autocrats and dictators from populists? Let’s map them all on a populism spectrum. Discover more in the new Populist Playbook Explainer Series.
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Freedom Team Interview: Lisa Beier in Focus
Meet our intern Lisa Beier, who was part of the FNF East and Southeast Europe Team for five months.
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Lost in Memory
FNF Russia in exile in cooperation with the StraightForward Foundation supported the author's fellowship of the book "Lost in Memory: Memorial Society and the Battle for the Russian Past". The book is about the "Memorial Society" - the first civil rights organization in the late USSR, advocating for the rehabilitation and commemoration of the millions of victims of Stalin’s political repression.
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Equality Dialogues with the European Political Families
EuroPride 2024 in Thessaloniki was a vibrant celebration of diversity and inclusivity, featuring impactful panel discussions organised by the Rainbow Platform of ALDE Party in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation for East and Southeast Europe. Highlighting the dynamic strategies of liberal European political parties, this event served as a crucial platform for discussions on defending LGBT rights amidst rising right-wing voices.
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Recap: LCN Academy 2024 "Making A Good Message Better"
The LCN-Non-Profit Academy 2024 has successfully concluded, empowering liberal communicators equipped with cutting-edge strategies and innovative marketing trends tailored specifically for the mission-driven sector. Over two months, 45 participants from 23 different countries delved into non-profit communications, emerging better prepared to win hearts and minds, influence values and behaviors, and drive societal change towards a forward-looking future.
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Tiny Tales, Big Impact: The Power of Storytelling and Short-form Video
After 4 Classes of online LCN-Non-Profit Academy, it is high time to organize an in-person capacity building and networking opportunity for the top alumni of LCN to move forward our European network of liberal marketing professionals.
This Alumni Academy is a cooperation between LCN and another flagship ‘Tell Me Your Story’ Academy of ELF and Project Polska. We would visit Warsaw to explore synergies of the two networks and leverage the storytelling expertise. -
Freedom Team Interview: Friedrich Otto Neumann in Focus
Meet our intern Otto Neumann, who was part of the FNF East and Southeast Europe Team for three months.
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"Think Freedom: The Catalyst" Premiere and Film Discussion
“I felt the need to be in the streets. I said ‘okay, so they have escalated that, I will escalate too’. I wasn’t sure how, but I was going to stay there for as long as it takes.” shared Radu Vancu in a panel discussion on his determination in the “We see you” protests in Romania. On the 27th of March the premiere of the documentary "Think Freedom: The Catalyst" took place at the Goethe Institute in Bucharest. Directed by Anna Stoeva and produced by Tanuki Films, the film delves into the remarkable story of Radu Vancu, an intellectual, poet, scholar and activist from Sibiu, Romania.
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Liberal Communicators Network (LCN): Non-Profit Academy 2024
The LCN-Non-Profit Academy will empower liberal communicators to adapt cutting-edge communication strategies, innovation, and marketing trends for the specific context of the mission-driven sector. Apply by 14 April, to join
join this professional community of non-profit communicators from civil society organizations, foundations, think tanks, change-makers, working on liberal topics in Europe. By innovating non-profit communications, liberals will be better equipped to win the hearts and minds, influence shifts in values and behaviour.
