Launched in 2004 in cooperation with the Austrian daily Die Presse, the Political Salons are a platform for open and informed debate on international affairs. Each Salon features an in-depth conversation with a distinguished guest from politics, academia, culture, or media. The discussion is guided by a trio of renowned interlocutors: Die Presse’s Christian Ultsch, who serves as moderator and journalistic voice; Andreas Treichl from ERSTE Foundation, contributing economic and political insights; and IWM’s Albert Hirschman permanent fellow Ivan Krastev, who will challenge assumptions and add a political science perspective.
The opening event of the new series, taking place on 9 December 2025, will focus on Poland—a country at the center of Europe’s political and economic transformation. The featured guest, Maciej Kisilowski, associate professor at Central European University and a 2025-2026 Europe’s Futures Fellow, will discuss Poland's “economic miracle” and the forces driving it; the country's political fragmentation and prospects of establishing consensus; and Poland's role in shaping European security policy.
The Political Salons are held in the IWM library. Following the expert exchange, guests will have the opportunity to engage directly through a Q&A session.
