This is a joint event organised by the Global Policy Institute in partnership with the Federal Trust.

Monday, 2nd December 2019
17.00 – 19.00, followed by a drinks reception

Venue: Coventry University London Campus, 109 – 177 Middlesex Street, London E1 7JF

RSVP to [email protected] or on 024 7765 1102

Lecture and Discussion with Tony Czarnecki, presenting his forthcoming book “Democracy for Human Federation – Coexisting with Superintelligence”

The faults in the democratic system have been with us for quite some time. At the same time, the crisis of democracy coincides with the increasing danger arising from a number of man-made existential risks, such as a global warming, biotechnology or a global nuclear war, which can happen at any time. Among the biggest risks facing Humanity in the next two decades is Artificial Intelligence (AI), and in particular its mature form Superintelligence – also called Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). This is the type of AI that will be thousands of times more intelligent than all humans, and which could wipe out the human species either by a malicious intent or because of an erroneous design.

So, how could humans save themselves from such a potentially perilous future? The overall solution lies in a deep reform of democracy and in changing our view from an insular, national perspective and instead focus on the Humanity’s survival. We need a new system of democracy for two reasons. The first one is to help us navigate the next several decades safely by being united in a Human Federation created with new principles of democracy. The second one is to create Superintelligence that would inherit our Universal Values and our democratic principles so that it becomes our friend rather than an adversary.

However, to have any meaningful impact, a deep reform of democracy must happen really quickly, by about 2030, while we may still retain control over the maturing Superintelligence. We have no time to create a new global organization with sufficient economic, technological and military powers that could initially act as a de facto World Government. The most realistic option seems to be to convert and existing organization, which could be being gradually converted into a Human Federation.

Tony Czarnecki will argue that despite the current adversary tide in the European Union, it is this organization, selected out of 10 possible candidates, which after being converted into the European Federation, has the best chance to become the foothold for the future Human Federation.

About Tony Czarnecki

Tony Czarnecki

Founder and Managing Partner, Sustenis Ltd

Tony Czarnecki is an economist and a member of Chatham House, deeply engaged in global politics and the reform of democracy. He is also an active member of London Futurists. His very wide interests spreading into politics, technology, science and economics, gave him the necessary insight for searching for the solutions to minimizing Humanity’s existential risks. That was the subject of his previous book: “Who could save Humanity from Superintelligence?” In his new book ‘Democracy for Human Federation – Coexisting with Superintelligence”, he focuses on the scope of reforms needed for democracy to withstand the Humanity’s challenges to coexist with Superintelligence in the very near future.

This is a joint event organised by the Global Policy Institute in partnership with the Federal Trust and the Warsaw-based Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies.

Monday, 18th November 2019

17.00 – 19.00, followed by a drinks reception

Venue: Coventry University London Campus, University House, 109-117 Middlesex Street, London E1 7JF

RSVP by email to [email protected] or by phone on 024 7765 1102

We would like to invite you to the presentation of the publication:

The 70th anniversary of NATO establishment, happening alongside the 20th anniversary of Polish membership in the Alliance, will be a an opportunity to talk about the great changes that both the Polish Army and NATO itself underwent, in particular considering how much its mission changed following the collapse of the Iron Curtain. The role played by NATO in providing security in Europe is unquestionable, therefore the project will also consist of a series of debates focusing on the changes in structure and goals that the Alliance will have to go through in the foreseeable future.

Copies of the report will be available for participants.

Programme

17: 00 Opening Remarks:

His Excellency Arkady Rzegocki
Ambassador of Poland to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Poland

17: 10 Introduction to Project:

Michal Oleksiejuk
Coordinator for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, Institute for Eastern Studies, Poland

17:20 Panel Presentation and Discussion:

Moderator: Brendan Donnelly, Director, Federal Trust for Education and Research, United Kindgom

Rt. Col. Ray Wojcik
Director, CEPA Warsaw, United States of America

Liudas Zdanavicius
Lecturer, General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania

Professor Richard Whitman
University of Kent, United Kingdom

19:00 Reception and Networking

The Global Policy Institute, in partnership with the Federal Trust and Federal Union,
cordially invites you to attend the event ‘Never Ending Brexit?’.

TUESDAY, 8 October 2019
17:30 – 19:30, followed by a drinks reception

Venue:

Room 1.04
Coventry University London Campus
University House
109 – 117 Middlesex Street
London E1 7JF

Speakers:

Dr Denis MacShane, former MP and Europe Minister under Tony Blair, will discuss the latest developments in the Brexit debate, such as the implications of the prorogation of Parliament and a possible General Election. He argues that the European question will remain the defining political issue of our time, with the prospect of a decade or more of bad-tempered negotiations, internal political rows, and uncertainty for business and citizens.

Dr. Andrew Blick, Senior Lecturer in Politics and Contemporary History at King’s College London, will speak about the constitutional implications of recent debate concerning the prorogation of Parliament and the relative rights of government and Parliament in international negotiations. He will argue that the uncertainty and controversy surrounding this debate reinforce the case for a written, probably federal constitution for the UK.

Respondent:
Brendan Donnelly, Director, The Federal Trust and Senior Research Fellow, Global Policy Institute

If you would like to attend this event RSVP by email to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on +44 (0)24 7765 1102.

Venue: University House (Coventry University London Campus), 109 – 117 Middlesex Street, London E1 7JF

RSVP to [email protected] or by phone on 024 7765 1102.

March 2016 saw Myanmar’s first democratically elected government to take office since 1962, though under a constitution that gives veto powers to non-elected representatives.  Before it took office the National League for Democracy (NLD) set out a new direction for the country, stating that it would ‘strive for the establishment of a genuine federal democratic union base on the principles of freedom, equality and self-determination’. However, the challenge is not only to move from a military dictatorship to a federal democracy, but also to move from an isolated war economy to a market economy with significant international linkages.

Professor Stefan Collignon will be discussing these twin challenges, and the important role of public finances in them, at our event.

Speakers

Stefan Collignon
Stefan Collignon is the author of the 2018 report published by Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation: ‘Public Finance For A Genuine Federal Democratic Union: An Introduction into Public Spending and Taxation Issues for Myanmar’.

He is Professor of Political Economy at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, and International Chief Economist of the Centro Europa Ricerche (CER), Roma. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Harvard.

His personal website is http://www.stefancollignon.de/

This event is organised by the Global Policy Institute in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Federal Trust.

Venue: Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB

Date/Time: 17 September 2019, 17.00 – 19.00, followed by a reception

RSVP by email to [email protected], or by phone on +44 (0)24 7765 1102.

At this event, our panel of experts will analyse the state of relations between Russia and its European neighbours from a Russian, a European and a British perspective; and assess whether there are aspects of this relationship that can or should be improved.

Speakers

Sir Rodric Braithwaite GCMG
Former British Ambassador to Moscow (1988 – 1992); Author of “Across the Moscow River: The World Turned Upside Down”; “Moscow 1941: A City and Its People at War” and “Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan, 1979–89”

Mary Dejevksy
Writer and Broadcaster

Dr Maxine David
Lecturer in European Studies at Leiden University and Research Fellow at the Global Europe Centre, University of Kent

Dr Stanislav Secrieru
Senior Analyst, European Union Security Studies Institute

Further speakers to be announced.

This Global Policy Institute seminar is hosted by Coventry University London and  sponsored by Max Weber Studies and the Federal Trust. It will be held at University House, 109 Middlesex Street E1 7JF on Thursday 11 July, 14.00-18.00. Registration from 13.30.

The Global Policy Institute in its latest ‘Overview’ (www.gpilondon.com) places the rise of populism within the context of the breakdown of globalisation and a regression from the international liberal order. Globalisation seemed to offer citizens greater prosperity as the world was more closely integrated. The great financial crash marked the ending of this phase and saw the loss of political legitimacy of core institutions. In addition, the profound economic injustice of the financial rescue measures has driven populism, neo-nationalism, plebiscitary leaders and intolerance of immigrants. Borderless borders are now ‘bordered’. Policy injustice has triggered arbitrary injustice of selective citizen disenfranchisement. Victimization has cascaded down the social ladder.

By this analysis the rise of populism should come as no surprise. Representative democracy has not defended citizen security. Populism, however, requires further critical scrutiny. We have well-worked sociological theories of nationalism, but what of neo-nationalism? The same can be said of plebiscitary leadership, but should not this concept be applied to both prime-ministerial government and populism? Are ‘strong’ leaders capable of delivering policies? Party politics has long since used propaganda, why is social media any different? What are the chances of other forms of direct democracy which offer an alternative to the centralization of political power?

RSVP:

Please register by email to [email protected], or ring the Global Policy Institute on 024 7765 1101.

Programme:

First session 2.00-4.00

Professor Ralph Schroeder, Oxford Internet Institute
Populism and the role of digital media

Dr Marzia Maccaferri, Goldsmiths College
Populism and the tradition of direct democracy in Italy

Professor Alan Scott, University of New England, New South Wales
Populism and neo-nationalism in Austria and the UK

Tea and Coffee

Second Session: 4.15- 6.00

Professor Sam Whimster, Max Weber Studies
Tendencies in plebiscitary leadership and the undermining of representative democracy

Dr Michael Lloyd, Global Policy Institute
Federal democracy as the alternative to populism

6.00 Drinks reception

Our panellists will be discussing the European election campaign of 2019 and its results. In particular they will be analysing themes such as the success of populist, anti-EU parties in the European elections; analyse the campaign(s) of the different parties in different countries; the role of the Spitzenkandidat process; and what impact the election result will have on European and domestic politics.
Speakers:

Dr Giacomo Benedetto 
Senior Lecturer in Politics – Jean Monnet Chair, Royal Holloway, University of London

Dr Charlotte Galpin
Lecturer in German and European Politics and Deputy Director of the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham

Felix Dane
Head of the UK & Ireland office, Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation

If you would like to attend this event RSVP by email to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on 020 8065 0324.

Monday 5^th November  2018

17.00 – 19.00, followed by a drinks reception

Venue: Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB

Joint event by The Federal Trust, Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation and Global Policy Institute

Amid the controversy of the Brexit negotiations both sides agree that the security relationship between the EU and the UK will remain an important building bloc of European stability. But what form might this new relationship take after Brexit, and can it be as smooth and fruitful as is hoped if Britain turns its back on the EU? Would Brexit weaken Europe’s defence structures or would it accelerate efforts by the other EU member states to integrate their defence capacities?  Our expert panel will consider these and other questions related to the future defence structures in Europe.

Panellists:

Elisabeth Braw
Director, Modern Deterrence programme, RUSI

Professor Richard Whitman
Professor Politics and International Relations , University of Kent

Dr Ben Jones
Teaching Fellow in European Foreign Policy, Department of European & International Studies, King’s College London

Dr Ben Martill
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dahrendorf Forum, London School of Economics & Political Science

RSVP to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on 020 8065 0324.

If you would like to attend this event RSVP by email to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on 020 7320 1677.

The US Fed and the ECB saved the banking and financial system from meltdown in 2008 and after, but just how successful and effective were they? Why was the US Fed quicker off the mark and why was the US economic recovery superior to the Eurozone? And in both countries, do we think a monetary response alone was sufficient? Did citizens in the real economy have to pay too high a price for the bankers’ crisis?

Has the time now come to make over-powerful central banks more accountable and responsive to federal democracies? Is central bank ‘independence’ still justified? Are the current policies of the Eurozone threatening the break-up of the EU?

Thursday, 12 June
17:00 – 19:00, followed by refreshments

Mary Sumner House
24 Tufton Street 
London SW1P 3RB

This will be the first in our 2018 series of joint events with Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation and the Federal Trust.

If you would like to attend this event RSVP by email to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on 020 7320 1677.

Tuesday 15th May 2018
17.00 – 19.00, followed by a drinks reception

Mary Sumner House
24 Tufton Street
London SW1P 3RB

It is sometimes claimed that the UK has to choose between European and global trading links. Germany has managed to be both the most successful large economy in Europe and at the same time  a leading exporter to global markets. Our panellists will consider how Germany has managed to combine these two supposedly incompatible goals. In particular the trading models of Germany and China, one of German’s major markets, will be contrasted and compared.

Speakers:

Matthias Bauer
Senior Economist at the European Centre for International Political Economy

Dr Rebecca Harding
Founder and CEO of Equant-Analytics

Dr Karine Lisbonne-de Vergeron
Associate Director & Head of GPI Europe Programme 

The Global Policy Institute, in partnership with The Federal Trust and Blenheim Strategy cordially invite you to the launch of Professor Stephen Haseler’s new policy pamphlet: ‘Trump’s New World Order: Brexit and Europe in a World Turned Upside Down’

Donald Trump’s Presidency is likely to see a radical change of course for America and the world. This event will look at what the Trump presidency means for American Foreign Policy, Brexit Britain and The European Project. And it will ask: Is NATO obsolete? Is Globalisation over? How should Europe respond?

Date: 16th February 2017
Time: 17.30 – 19.30, followed by a drinks reception (registration starts at 17.00)
Location: Broadway House, Tothill Street, London SW1H 9NQ (nr. St. James Tube Station)

Click here for location details (pdf file) 

Keynote Speaker:  

Professor Stephen Haseler. Professor Stephen Haseler is the Director of the Global Policy Institute.He holds a Doctorate from LSE and held visiting professorships atGeorgetown University and Johns Hopkins University in the United States. He is the author of numerous books, includingThe Super Rich, Meltdown: How the Master’s of the Universe Destroyed the West’s Power and Prosperity. His new book on Brexit, ‘England Alone’ , will be published in April.

Respondents:

Bruce Weinrod (via video link from the US),
Bruce Weinrod is former Secretary of Defense Representative to Europe and Defense Advisor to the U.S. Mission NATO

Michael Lind  (via video link from the US)
Michael Lind is Co-founder and ASU Future of War Fellow at New America in Washington, D.C.; contributing editor of Politico and The National Interest; and a columnist for Salon

Professor Richard Whitman
Professor of Politics and International Relations and Director of the Global Europe Center at the University of Kent, and visiting senior fellow of the Europe Programme at Chatham House

Chair: Brendan Donnelly, Director of the Federal Trust

Click here to register on Eventbrite.
Or RSVP by email: [email protected] or telephone: 020 7320 1677

Throughout 2018 we will again be running a series of joint events with the London office of Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation and Global Policy Institute. The theme for this series will be German attitudes to European and global challenges. Please save the dates in your diary and look out for further details nearer the time:

19th March 2018 – Germany as global trading power
15th May 2018 – tba
2nd July 2018 – tba
5th November 2018 – tba

All events will take place from 5.00pm to 7.00pm, followed by a drinks reception. The venue will be: Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB.

If you would like to attend any of these events RSVP to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on 020 7320 1677.

At this seminar, our expert panel will discuss the implications of Donald Trump’s Presidency for Europe’s role in the wider world. Traditionally the EU, and particularly Germany, has seen Europe’s global role as being exercised in close collaboration with the US.  Is such an attitude still desirable or even possible with the current US administration? Does Europe perhaps find itself today confronted by twin challenges to its West and to its East, from the US and Russia? If this is so, do these new challenges create opportunities as well as dangers?

This is a joint event with Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation and the Federal Trust

Tuesday, 17th October 2017
17.00 – 19.00, followed by a drinks reception

Mary Sumner House
24 Tufton Street
London SW1P 3RB

Confirmed Speakers:

Ansgar Graw, Chief Reporter for Die Welt and its former US correspondent

Dr Jacob Parakilas, Deputy Head, US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House

RSVP to [email protected], or ring the Federal Trust on 020 7320 1677.

The Global Policy Institute and the Federal Trust cordially invite you to attend the launch of and a panel discussion on the late Stephen Haseler’s last book England Alone: Brexit and the Crisis of English Identity, which he completed shortly before his death in July.

The themes of England Alone as set out by Stephen Haseler are:

• The Brexit referendum result represents the end product of a crisis of English identity and confidence that has been building for over a century as the UK lost its role as a world empire.

• The Brexiteers live in a fantasy-land about our negotiating position and power in relation to the EU, and about the viability of a new ‘global role’. They have consistently overestimated the importance of the UK in the new global order.

• Brexit – the final result of a century of this delusion of grandeur – will, as we leave the world’s largest Single Market, leave us much poorer. And, as separatism grows in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will also de-stabilise the Westminster state itself, including the monarchy, as the UK breaks up.

• So devastating was the EU referendum result that the existing Parliament, where there is an anti-Brexit majority, should, as an act of real as opposed to phoney patriotism, re-align the parties and reverse Brexit in order to stay in the EU. Behind these four themes are four critical issues that will be examined by the panel:

Behind these themes there are four critical issues that will be examined by the panel: Sovereignty, Citizenship, English Identity and English Futures.

Programme

Welcome & Introduction: Professor Chris Dixon (Acting Director Global Policy Institute)

Panel:

Chair: Brendan Donnelly (Director Federal Trust)

Professor Vernon Bogdanor, King’s College London

Dr. Andrew Blick, King’s College London

John Stevens, former MEP

Professor Sam Whimster, Global Policy Institute

Open discussion

Closing remarks: Professor Chris Dixon

The event will be followed by a drinks reception.

To register your attendance for this event, RSVP by sending an email to:

[email protected] or call 020 7320 1677.

The Global Policy Institute, Federal Trust and Konrad Adenauer Foundation in London cordially invite you to attend ‘How will the EU look in twenty years time?’

This is an opportunity for German and British speakers to speculate on how the EU will evolve over the next twenty years and assess whether the prospect of Brexit has made or will make any difference to the EU’s future.

Confirmed Speakers:

Andrew Duff, Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre and President of the Spinelli Group; former MEP

Kirsty Hughes, Director, Scottish Centre on European Relations

Further speakers to be announced.

RSVP by email to [email protected], or ring 020 7320 1677.