{"id":19619,"date":"2025-11-21T10:31:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paris.pan.pl\/?p=19619"},"modified":"2025-11-21T14:36:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T14:36:08","slug":"summary-of-the-conference-current-geopolitical-challenges-and-threats-international-order-in-the-21st-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paris.pan.pl\/en\/summary-of-the-conference-current-geopolitical-challenges-and-threats-international-order-in-the-21st-century\/","title":{"rendered":"Summary of the conference \u201cCurrent geopolitical challenges and threats: international order in the 21st century\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The conference, \u201cCurrent geopolitical challenges and threats: international order in the 21st century\u201d, organised by the Polish Academy of Sciences Scientific Centre in Paris in cooperation with the Institut d\u2019Etudes de G\u00e9opolitique Appliqu\u00e9e, the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Association des Etudiants Polonais en France, provided an opportunity to reflect in depth on the challenges shaping the contemporary international order. It also emphasised the growing complexity of global threats and the need to develop effective cooperation mechanisms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The keynote lecture, delivered by Professor Mathias Delori, \u201cBreaking cycles of vengeance\u201d, focused on analysing historical cases of violence and considering whether it is possible to break the spiral of revenge that fuels conflicts<\/strong>. From Franco-German relations after World War II and the Cold War to the global war on terror, Professor Delori highlighted the power of non-violent action and initiatives, emphasising the necessity of seeking alternative paths to building peace in a world where violence is still perceived as an effective tool.<\/p>\n

The conference programme featured presentations and panel discussions exploring strategic narratives that shape the global order, as well as the role of ESG in foreign policy. Of particular note were the debates \u201cThe New Space Race: Private Rockets, Public Goals?\u201d – which addressed the growing involvement of private companies in space exploration – and \u201cCyber Warfare: The New Front Line of Global Conflict?\u201d, which emphasised the significance of cyberspace as a new arena for rivalry between states and non-state actors.<\/p>\n

During the conference, Antoine Godbert delivered a presentation on the return of Ratzel\u2019s ideas in the context of contemporary geopolitical tensions<\/strong>. His talk, \u201cThe return of Ratzel\u201d, showed how current processes – from the war in Ukraine to the digital revolution – revive old concepts of the organic state and the significance of networks and propaganda. It also raised questions about a new \u201cRenaissance\u201d era in international relations. Dr Pierre Th\u00e9venin addressed the issue of protecting submarine cables in the Baltic Sea region, highlighting legal gaps in UNCLOS and proposing legislative and technical solutions to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure<\/strong>. In her presentation, \u201cBeyond states: armed groups and the future of international relations\u201d, Karolina Siekierka drew attention to the growing role of armed groups in shaping international relations<\/strong>. Using the conflict in Yemen and the activities of the Houthis as an example, she demonstrated how non-state armed actors can assume state-like functions, influence traditional political players and become partners in peace negotiations. This raises questions about the future of international law and its effectiveness.<\/p>\n

The conference concluded with reflections on how to combine historical, legal, technological and ethical perspectives in order to build a more resilient and sustainable international system in the face of increasing threats and uncertainty. The event\u2019s key message was the need to redefine security strategies in a spirit of responsibility and cooperation, considering both traditional and emerging areas of competition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t