Foreign interference in domestic politics and elections has become one of the most contentious issues facing contemporary democracies. This plenary session brings together leading international experts to critically examine the scale, forms, and consequences of cross-border political influence.

The topic has triggered official investigations by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. It has generated political controversy in countries ranging from the United States and the United Kingdom to France, Germany, Moldova, Canada, and across Scandinavia. While Russia, China, and the United States are frequently cited as major actors, the panel will challenge simplified narratives and explore a wider and more complex landscape of influence.

Key themes of the session include:

The many channels of foreign political influence, beyond illegal campaign financing, include media ownership, think tanks, academia, lawfare, and post-office incentives.

Legal grey areas in election law and political finance regulation, and the difficulties of effective oversight.

The role of smaller neighbouring states, diaspora communities, religious networks, and ideological alliances in cross-border political influence.

Cases where external engagement has contributed positively to democratic change, including historical examples from Central and Eastern Europe.

A critical assessment of whether social media and digital technologies have fundamentally increased foreign political interference, or whether their impact has been overstated.

The panel’s core objective is to offer a nuanced, evidence-based discussion drawing on diplomatic, academic, journalistic, and policy experience, with particular attention to Central and Eastern Europe.

Invited speakers:

• Nigel Baker, Charge d’Affaires a.i., British Embassy Ljubljana, former ambassador to Bolivia, The Vatican and Slovakia. 
• Gordan Akrap, vice rector Franjo Tudman Defense and Security University, Zagreb, associate fellow Bonn University CASSIS programme, president Hybrid Warfare Research Institute, and member of the Croatian Parliament’s council for civilian oversight of security and intelligence agencies.
• Paul Father, retired fellow of Corpus Christi College and Mansfield College, University of Oxford, founding CEO of Central European University, founding general secretary of The Europaeum, awarded in 2020 the ‘Jan Masaryk Silver Medal for special contributions supporting the development of the Czech and Slovak nations.’
• Marcin Walecki, former senior advisor on political finance, International Foundation for Electoral Systems [Washington], head of democratization at OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights [Warsaw], senior resident country director in Ukraine, National Democratic Institute [NDI, Washington], visiting fellow St Antony’s College, University of Oxford and currently academic visitor, department of Russian and East European studies. 
• Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, retired research fellow of Merton College and Pembroke College, University of Oxford and Brunel University of London.