Past Events
Bled Strategic Forum 2023
We live in a world defined by polycrisis. Uncertainty and insecurity best describe the current moment in the international geostrategic community – but they also mark future challenges in the clearest possible terms. These challenges permeate every single aspect of our societies and cut against the grain of institutional and organised life in the twenty-first century. Every new crisis in the last decade, and in particular the COVID-19 pandemic, brought new strain to the existing, rules-based international system. Populism, nationalism, and autocratic regimes continue to gain strength – and they will continue to do so unless new and fresh ideas for the future are brought forward. The aim of the forum was to establish a common ground on how we, as a global community, can build a sustainable, resilient and socially just world based on solidarity.
The 18th Bled Strategic Forum took place on 28 and 29 August 2023 in Bled, Slovenia under the title ‘Solidarity for global security‘
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2023 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2022
We are living in uncertain and unstable times. The world order built on universally accepted rules has virtually disappeared, and with the Russian aggression on Ukraine, the remaining postulates of international and humanitarian law collapsed, bringing an era of uncertainty and instability. Once again, we are witnessing the rise of strong geopolitical and sovereignist trends, and the return of realism and the concept of (hard) power.
The 17th Bled Strategic Forum took place on 29 and 30 August 2022 in Bled, Slovenia under the title ‘The rule of power or the power of rules?‘
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2022 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2021
The recent crises, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changing international environment have revealed the need for the EU to adapt and change. The EU needs to build its resilience to successfully counter the crises of the future. The post-COVID recovery provides a unique chance to steer the EU on the much-required path towards an inclusive green and digital transformation. Globally, the EU needs to strengthen its external political power and build robust partnerships with its allies.
The 16th Bled Strategic Forum took place on 1 and 2 September 2021 in Bled, Slovenia under the title ‘The Future of Europe‘.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2021 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2020
We are entering an unprecedented era of crisis management. In these challenging times, with global response inefficient and inadequate, we are seeing a renewed shift in the international community towards enhanced neighbourly and regional cooperation and a need for new initiatives. The pandemic has clearly revealed the issues and problems that effective multilateralism is facing and brought to the forefront different concepts of international cooperation. Good neighbourly relations and robust regional initiatives will play a significant role in redefining and reinventing the way the global community faces new and asymmetrical threats in the future.
The 15th Bled Strategic Forum took place on Monday, 31 August 2020 in Bled, Slovenia titled ‘Challenges and Opportunities in the Post-COVID–19 World: Neighbours – Regions – Global World: Partners or Rivals?‘.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2020 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2019
Resources, their availability and regional dispersion are shaping strategic relations in the international community. The effective management of strategic resources maintains stability, reduces security risks and contributes to improving living standards, whereas uneven and unjust distribution leads to inequality and the concentration of resources in centres of power.
Under the title ‘(Re)sources of (In)stability’, the 14th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 31 August and 3 September 2019 in Ljubljana/Bled, Slovenia, and was dedicated to discussing the role of (re)sources regarding peace and security, sustainable development and economic progress.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2019 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2018
Recent technological advances have helped deepen our understanding of the world and, in certain areas, bring us closer together than ever, but the world remains rife with tensions. The predictions and indeed hope of many political thinkers at the end of the 20th century that access to information would result in greater homogeneity has not materialised. While many believe that facts are objective, we are now learning that in human interactions, distinguishing between facts and perceptions is harder than it seems, that reality is very personal, depending on our cultural experience, traditions and values. How do we distinguish a fact from a perception or a myth? How do we decide that what we see is true and not merely the result of subjective views? And when our realities differ, how do we bridge the divide?
Under the title ‘Bridging the Divide’, the 13th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 10 and 11 September 2018 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2017
Under the title ‘New Reality’, the 12th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 4 and 5 September 2017 in Bled, Slovenia.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2017 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2016
Under the title ‘Safeguarding the Future’, the 11th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 5 and 6 September 2016 in Bled, Slovenia.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2016 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2015
Under the title ‘Visions of New Partnerships’, the 10th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 31 August and 1 September 2015 in Bled, Slovenia.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2015 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2014
Under the title ‘Power of Trust’, the 9th Bled Strategic Forum took place on 1 September 2014 in Bled, Slovenia.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2014 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2013
Under the title ‘A Changing Europe in a Changing World’, the 8th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 1 and 3 September 2013 in Bled, Slovenia.
You can watch the panels of the Bled Strategic Forum 2013 here.
Bled Strategic Forum 2012
Under the title ‘Europe and the Reshaped Global Order’, the 7th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 2 and 3 September 2012 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2011
Under the title ‘The Power of Future’, the 6th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 9 and 10 September 2011 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2010
Under the title ‘Global Outlook for the Next Decade’, the 5th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 29 and 30 August 2010 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2009
Under the title ‘The Politics of Economic Crisis: Redefining Economic and Geopolitical Landscapes in Europe and Eurasia’, the 4th Bled Strategic Forum took place between 30 and 31 August 2009 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2008
Under the title ‘Energy and Climate Change: Si.nergy for the Future’, the 3rd Bled Strategic Forum took place between 31 August and 1 September 2008 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2007
Under the title ‘European Union 2020: Enlarging and Integrating’, the 2nd Bled Strategic Forum took place between 26 and 27 August 2007 in Bled, Slovenia.
Bled Strategic Forum 2006
Under the title ‘Political Reform and Sustainable Development in the South Caucasus’, the 1st Bled Strategic Forum took place between 27 and 28 August 2006 in Bled, Slovenia.