As Poland assumes an increasingly important role on Europe’s political, economic, and security scene, understanding the country’s deepening internal rift between the liberal center and the conservative right has become essential. With revolutionary conservatism offering a strategically intentional challenge to liberal democracy and electoral dynamics oscillating between the two camps, the question of where meaningful compromise can be found is more urgent than ever.
The opening event of the new Political Salon series—launched in 2004 in cooperation with Die Presse as a platform for open and informed debate—will take place on 9 December 2025 in the IWM Library. Each Salon features an in-depth conversation with a distinguished guest, guided by renowned interlocutors: Christian Ultsch (Die Presse) as moderator; Andreas Treichl (ERSTE Foundation) adding economic and political insight; and Ivan Krastev (IWM Albert Hirschman Permanent Fellow) offering a political science perspective.
Our featured guest for this inaugural session is Maciej Kisilowski, associate professor of law and strategy at the Central European University and a 2025–2026 Europe’s Futures Fellow. Kisilowski has been at the forefront of a cross-ideological initiative to develop a constitutional reform proposal for Poland, and he argues that the path forward lies in a jurisdictional compromise—one made possible when liberals adopt a “supply-side” understanding of populism. Drawing on his first-hand experience, he will discuss Poland’s political fragmentation, its economic “miracle” and the forces behind it, prospects for consensus-building, and the country’s evolving role in shaping European security policy.
A Q&A session will follow the expert exchange, offering guests the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers.
