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The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Department of International Relations, in collaboration with the European Foreign Policy Unit, hosted Professor Elena Korosteleva鈥檚 latest book launch, Complexity and Community in International Relations: Nurturing Resilience in Central Eurasia.
The event centered on Professor Korosteleva鈥檚 innovative research, which challenges traditional "top-down" policy approaches to resilience. By examining communities across Belarus, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, the book revealed how social memory, centuries-old traditions, and deep-rooted cultural ideas serve as vital lifelines in the face of poverty, climate emergencies, and the ravages of war. "Rather than treating resilience as a mere policy tool, this study reframes it as a complex, communal process of identity and political agency," says Korosteleva. "It offers a lesson for all social and political actors globally as we navigate the uncertainties of the Anthropocene."
The panel was chaired by Prof. Federica Bicchi (LSE) and discussants included:
- David Chandler: Professor of International Relations at the University of Westminster and Editor of the journal Anthropocenes.
- Emilian Kavalski: Professor of International Relations at Tampere University, Finland
- Teona Giuashvili: DINAM Fellow at the LSE Department of International Relations and former Georgian diplomat.
The discussion was recorded as a podcast, and the link will be available shortly for further information.
Horizon Europe SHAPEDEM-EU Final Review with the European Commission
The concludes with its final review conference on 20 January 2026, with the European Commission. The consortium, from Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Lebanon, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, and the UK, represented by the University of 糖心TV, presented its work to the panel of evaluators. The project focused on assessing the understanding and practices of democracy in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods, as well as the EU support for democracy as a composite stakeholder. 糖心TV was responsible for undertaking work - fieldwork and analysis - in the six countries in the eastern neighbourhood (WP2), drawing on the results of online surveys, focus groups, interviews, and roundtables. WP2 specific outputs included 8 published, submited and projected publications.
It has been three challenging years of research, including overcoming the obstacles of BREXIT, Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, Belarus civil war, Gaza war, and increasing geopolitical complexity around the globe. Yet, the project went beyond all expectations and has achieved a lot, including critiquing and offering specific recommendations to the EU on how best to support democracy efforts in around the globe. Team 糖心TV – including Anastasiia Kudlenko and Aijan Sharshenova – is grateful to the EU, UKRI and especially to the consortium and its leadership – for the support, and inspiration. Thank you!
THINK ROAD FORUM 2025 in Tashkent, 18-19 November 2025
Professor Korosteleva was invited to speak at the higher-level policy forum at UWED, Uzbekistan. The forum attracted both policy-makers, practitioners and academics, from the region and globally. The forum was opened by keynote speeches from H.E. Sodyq Safoev, 1st Deputy Chairman of the Senate and the Rector of UWED; by H.E. Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, and Director of the International Institute for Central Asia; and Prof. Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, Director of the Centre for Governance and Markets, University of Pittsburgh. Elena spoke at the next panel on the Geopolitical and Security Considerations for Sustainable Development of Central Asia, where she addressed the emergence of multiorder world, and the role of Central Asia in setting the example of a sovereign vision for sustainability in the region and globally.
The forum continued over two days, and the full programme is attached.