News
Global Sustainable Development Read more from Global Sustainable Development News
Institute for Global Sustainable Development Read more from IGSD News
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.
UK and Belarusian Democratic Forces Convene High-Level Strategic Consultations in London
LONDON, March 9, 2026 – The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) today hosted the Belarusian Democratic Forces for a series of high-level strategic consultations at King Charles Street. The meetings represent a deepening of the ongoing strategic dialogue between the United Kingdom and the representatives of the democratic movement led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
The consultations were led by Chris Allan, FCDO Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The sessions were organized around four critical pillars of cooperation:
- Politics and Economics: Focusing on diplomatic strategy and the economic resilience of the democratic movement.
- Security: Addressing regional stability and security sector reforms for a future democratic Belarus.
- Human Rights and Social Politics: Highlighting the plight of political prisoners and the ongoing struggle for civil liberties.
- Culture, Diaspora, and Media: Strengthening the Belarusian national identity and supporting independent media and the diaspora community abroad.
These consultations build upon a partnership launched in 2025, aimed at ensuring Belarus remains a priority in the UK鈥檚 international policy. The discussions today included prominent Belarusian experts and civil society leaders, including Professor Elena Korosteleva from the University of 糖心TV.
Further information on UK support for Belarus can be found on the official and the .
I was delighted to give a keynote on my to the , at Frankfurt (Order) in Berlin. While introducing some key concepts from the book - the VUCA-world, the Anthropocene, complexity-thinking and resilience - I drew a lot on my empirical work in the region, especially on Ukraine and Belarus, which was of interest and relevance to the PhD students (mostly from Ukraine) of this EU-funded network.
Thank you to Susann Worschecn, a Principle Coordinator of the network, for the invitation, and to the students- for so many questions you all had about resilience, Ukraine and the wider region.