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From Classrooms to Cabinets: News that matter

Hello and welcome to our November 2025 edition, your insider’s look at the currents shaping our world. This month, we zoom in on transformation, resilience, and strategic maneuvering — from Europe to the Caribbean and beyond.

Moldova voted on its future: EU integration or Russian sway? Two trailblazing women from Togo and Benin show how women are shaping politics, from classrooms to councils. In Europe, media faces commercial pressures that threaten democracy, while France’s political gridlock sparks questions about reform, trust, and EU unity — with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s rise offering a possible way out.

Cuba battles blackouts and empty gas stations in a deepening energy crisis, while the 18th GIBSA Dialogue in India gathered experts from Brazil, Germany, India, and South Africa to explore how history shapes today’s foreign policy challenges. Looking ahead, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) links green energy to defense resilience and strategic autonomy. Plus, meet Dr. Ofer Fridman, Senior Lecturer at King’s College London, whose work explores modern warfare, hybrid strategies, and the intersection of theory and policy.

From elections to energy, defense to diplomacy, this edition delivers context, insight, and stories you won’t want to miss.

SHORT ARTICLE

Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Moldova “Yes” to Europe 

Moldova’s parliamentary elections drew international attention, as voters were asked to choose not just a government but a geopolitical direction. Will the country stay on its ambitious path toward the EU, or will Russian influence pull it off course? Explore why this election mattered far beyond Moldova’s borders — and what it could mean for Europe’s future.

Women Shaping Politics: Voices from Togo and Benin 

Two inspiring women from Togo and Benin share how they entered politics, what drives them, and how women can shape change - from classrooms to local councils and beyond.

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Privatising Democracy: The Potential Danger of a Market-Driven Public Sphere

Media shapes democracy - but growing commercial pressures threaten its civic role. Europe still has the opportunity to strengthen public oversight and preserve pluralism in its information landscape.

Read it here!

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Liberté, Égalité, Immobilité or The crisis of the Fifth Republic
France’s political system is stuck in a deep crisis, with distrust freezing reforms before they even begin. Yet the rise of new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu could offer a surprising path to breaking the deadlock. Discover why his profile matters now more than ever.

How French Turmoil Is Shaping Europe’s Future

Dive into our talk with Ronja Kempin as she unpacks how France’s instability and budget strains are reshaping EU unity, its Ukraine strategy, and the outlook for a bolder European foreign policy. 

VIDEO

Cuba in the Dark: Inside the Islands Deepening Energy Crisis

Blackouts across the island. Empty gas stations. A nation in the dark. Discover the story behind Cuba’s energy crisis — its origins, its impact, and how an entire country is fighting to keep the lights on.

Watch it here

FROM OUR GALLERY

GIBSA DIALOGUE

Sources and Manifestations of Foreign Policy 

From 13–15 October 2025, the 18th GIBSA Dialogue brought leading experts from Brazil, Germany, India, and South Africa together in Amritsar — a city rich in history and symbolism — to reflect on how past experiences continue to influence today’s foreign policy choices. Organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the forum offered a platform to discuss key global challenges, from security and multilateralism to climate policy and migration. With thematic sessions, interactive debates, and on-site insights — including a visit to the Partition Museum and an encounter with India’s Border Security Force — the Dialogue highlighted the value of collaborative engagement in shaping tomorrow’s global governance.

ANALYSIS

SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) as a key to European defence capability and Fuel supply sovereignty

SAF could become a game-changer for Europe — boosting defence resilience, cutting fossil-fuel dependence, and reinforcing strategic autonomy at a moment of global uncertainty. By tying sustainability directly to security and operational readiness, it offers a powerful blueprint for a stronger, more agile Europe. Read more here.

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

HSS Columbia
💖 Unstoppable women 💪 transform Galapa 🌍 through leadership, political action 🏛️, and collective empowerment ✨.

HSS India
Bavaria 🤝 Karnataka deepen ties, advancing trade 💼, science 🔬, and people-to-people 🌏 connections through parliamentary dialogue 🏛️.

HSS Berlin
Dr. Alexander Wolf 🇩🇪 hosted Bundeswehr officers 🪖, discussing global security 🌍, politics 🏛️, and strategic networks 🔗.

WHO IS...?

Dr. Ofer Fridman?

Dr. Ofer Fridman, Senior Lecturer at King’s College London, delves into the evolving battlefield of modern warfare — from information manipulation to hybrid strategies — revealing how theory and policy collide in today’s global security landscape.
 
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The articles in this newsletter reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.