FIR Annual Conference 2025 From Geopolitics to Geoeconomics: How to Face Uncertain Times

At this year’s annual faculty conference, distinguished speakers explored one of the most pressing questions of our time – how global power structures, values, and institutions are shifting in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world. The conference offered an insightful and multifaceted discussion spanning global politics, European governance, innovation, and economic resilience.

Geopolitics and Changing World Order – Who and What Will Rule?

Opening the session, Jaroslav Weinfurther captured the essence of today’s global environment as one of “ordered chaos.” He argued that we are witnessing a transition from a liberal world order to a multipolar system dominated by several major power centers – namely the United States, China, and Russia, with possible additions from regional powers. This power constellation creates a complex and unpredictable dynamic, not only as a clash of powers but also as a clash of worldviews and rule-based systems. While multipolarity is not new in history, Weinfurther emphasized that today’s context is unique: for the first time, we are entering multipolarity within a landscape shaped by modern institutions, supranational governance, and non-state actors. Governance is becoming increasingly polycentric — distributed among diverse centers of competence such as security alliances, economic hubs, and technological ecosystems. He concluded that while the breakup of the global liberal order poses challenges for the West, it opens new opportunities for the Global South – allowing states to act with greater geopolitical opportunism and ideological flexibility, choosing partners and rulebooks to suit their interests.

Monika Ladmanová brought the focus closer to home, stressing that the European Union is not an external entity imposed upon member states, but a collective project shaped by all 27 nations. She described the EU as “a little miracle” – a union that has ensured peace for more than 70 years. Yet, in an era of renewed global competition, Europe faces the challenge of simplifying its decision-making while preserving its democratic legitimacy. The EU is increasingly looking inward, reassessing its own competitiveness, legislative processes, and resilience. New agendas are emerging in defence and security, reflecting the realization that Europe must be ready to defend the peace it has long taken for granted. Despite current tensions and crises, Ladmanová remains optimistic, that Europe survives through crises – and each one makes it stronger and more integrated.

Othon Anastasakis examined how the war in Ukraine and other global crises have reshaped Europe’s geopolitical landscape. He highlighted the EU’s unity in responding to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine but contrasted it with the fragmented response to the Gaza conflict, which revealed differing national positions and social divisions. He noted the revival of the Franco-German partnership as a promising sign, though the EU’s “center of gravity” is increasingly shifting eastward, with Poland emerging as a major player in security and defence. Meanwhile, the Baltic states, long warning of Russian aggression, are now central to shaping the EU’s eastern strategy. At the same time, countries like Greece and Cyprus face new dilemmas as Turkey gains prominence in European defence, while Hungary and Slovakia’s close ties with Russia test EU unity. Anastasakis warned that the EU’s commitment to a rules-based order is being challenged by competing global narratives – from Russia, China, and the Global South – and by internal strains, including uncertainty in the transatlantic relationship with the United States.

Veronika Jelínková reflected on recent milestones such as the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO and the Czech-led ammunition initiative, which elevated the Czech Republic’s reputation within the Alliance. She emphasized the need for increased defence spending, long advocated by the United States, and for transparent communication with the public about security realities. The Czech Republic’s role, she noted, would be crucial as a host nation for allied support in the event of regional conflict. Jelínková also pointed to the new forms of warfare confronting Europe – hybrid wars, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns – as evidence that defending a rules-based international order requires not only military preparedness but also societal resilience.

Maneuvering Amid Turbulence: Are Unpredictability and Instability the New Normal?

Francesca Guadagno argued that innovation – not tariffs or raw materials – is the real driver of economic growth. Yet Europe faces structural barriers: insufficiently large technology firms, limited marketization of research, and fragmented innovation systems.
She urged stronger links between universities and industry, noting that innovation “destroys equilibrium” and must be understood as a dynamic, disruptive process – one that could also power the green transition if properly supported.

David Müller reflected on how recent crises have transformed Europe’s economic thinking. Decades of assumed stability in global supply chains have given way to an era of “predictable unpredictability.” He emphasized that for a landlocked, export-driven economy like the Czech Republic, trade remains essential. The challenge is to identify critical dependencies, invest in resilient supply chains, and balance strategic autonomy with global openness. While Europe cannot eliminate vulnerabilities overnight, Müller argued that building resilience is cheaper than reacting to disruptions – and that partnerships with like-minded nations will be vital for maintaining competitiveness and stability.

Concluding the conference, Michal Hrubý discussed the transformation of Europe’s automotive industry, where decades-old manufacturers struggle to shift toward clean technologies. He highlighted the continent’s growing dependence on external suppliers, particularly in Asia, and how this has redefined the concept of strategic vulnerability. Similarly, the dominance of China in rare earth materials underscores Europe’s limited ability to diversify in the short term.

The conference painted a vivid picture of a world in transition, yet full of opportunity for those ready to adapt. From global governance to European integration, from innovation to defence, one theme stood out: resilience through cooperation. As the liberal order fragments, the task for European Union and the Czech Republic will be to redefine their roles within this new world of ordered chaos.