Reflections on the IDEoPOP Kick-off Conference

Attending the IDEoPOP Kick-off Conference in Freiburg, which took place between 17 and 19 September 2025 was an intellectually rich and personally rewarding experience. As a representative of the International Youth Think Tank (IYTT), I had the opportunity to connect with a wide range of scholars, PhD candidates, and policy experts, all committed to better understanding the international dimensions of populism. From the very first session, it was clear that this network would offer not only theoretical depth but also a platform for genuine dialogue and knowledge exchange. The setting (i.e., the University of Freiburg and the informal venues and coffee chats) contributed to a stimulating and collegial atmosphere.

One of the highlights was the poster session, where I presented Charta 25, a plea for reclaiming democracy. Sharing this project with an audience of international researchers allowed for insightful feedback and opened up unexpected avenues for further reflection. Several participants were particularly interested in how Charta 25 engages with themes of democratic participation and counter-populist narratives from a civil society perspective. The responses I received confirmed that there is real value in bringing ethnographic and artistic methods into conversations on international relations and populism.

Furthermore, the engagement of the IYTT added a meaningful dimension to the conference. In the responses we received as part of the IYTT Youth Panel on the authoritarian surge, many participants expressed a strong sense of urgency to counter the rise of populism in light of increasing political violence around the globe. In other words, there is a pressing need for research-based responses to the global authoritarian surge that increasingly threatens the foundations of our open and democratic societies.

Beyond my own contribution, I found the conference content highly engaging. The public roundtable discussion on “Populism and Foreign Policy: How Populists in Power Are Changing the World” particularly stood out to me. For example, it was particularly intriguing to observe how scholars such as Juliet Kaarbo, David Cadier, Angelos Chryssogelos, and Sandra Destradi addressed the inherent duality of populist foreign policy—oscillating between confrontation and cooperation. Their analyses shed light on how populist leaders tend to “domesticate” foreign policy, aligning international action with domestic political goals. This, in turn, raised thought-provoking questions about risk tolerance of populist-led governments and the overall coherence and durability of their foreign policy approaches. These discussions sharpened my understanding of populism as a fluid and adaptable force, rather than a static ideology.

Overall, the IDEoPOP Kick-off Conference left a lasting impression on me. It demonstrated that academic research and practical engagement are not opposing forces but complementary paths toward understanding and responding to the populist moment. I am grateful for the chance to represent the IYTT in this context and to have been part of such a forward-looking and open-minded community. The conversations in Freiburg will continue to shape both my academic thinking and my civic commitment.