Prague
In 2004, the Central European countries joined the European Union as new members. The Prague office seeks to strengthen liberal forces, both political and intellectual, in the region. Our project office particularly supports the 4liberty.eu network, which serves as a centre of competence and a platform for dialogue.
News
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Even the disinformers are consolidating at the end of the year. The opposition and the EU are slandered, while odes to Russia are underscored by Fico's planned visit to Moscow
In the past two weeks in Slovak disinformation enviroment, a large number of posts contained negative sentiment towards the EU. Domestic topics were again dominated by attacks on the mainstream media and denigration of the opposition. And at the end of the year, there was no shortage of narratives glorifying Russia again,
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From Poland with Love. November
Poland is already immersed in the presidential campaign, with elections scheduled for May. The public has been taken aback by revelations concerning the dubious academic degrees conferred by a private university established by PiS. This month, we also present an array of cultural updates.
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[NEW PUBLICATION]: Understanding the Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Policy Roadmap for the European Union
Our partner from Slovenia, Zavod 14, just released a publication on the socioeconomic and environmental impact of AI. The publication highlights the immense potential of AI to drive innovation and competitiveness within the EU but also emphasizes the need to mitigate risks related to workforce displacement, social inequality, privacy concerns, and the environmental costs associated with AI technologies.
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Fearmongering of world conflict and glorification of Russian liberators. In the disinformation scene, nothing new
Passions were inflamed in particular by US President Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use US long-range missiles on Russian territory. ● The topic of the war in Ukraine was also accompanied by posts that heavily glorified Russia, for example through videos allegedly showing the abundance of goods in Russian shops and therefore the ineffectiveness of Western sanctions.
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Episode 3. The Baltics: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - An overview
Baltic nations push for energy independence with offshore wind farms, aiming to boost capacity and cut reliance on Russia. Despite defense and security challenges, innovation and AI are paving the way forward.
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35 Years after the Velvet Revolution: A Reflection on Democracy and Its Challenges
On November 17, the Czech Republic and Slovakia marked the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, a pivotal moment in 1989 that changed the trajectory of both nations.
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On the Path to Illiberal Democracy?
One year after Robert Fico's election, there is a trend towards illiberal democracy in Slovakia. He is centralizing power with pro-Russian, authoritarian policies, which reminds critics of Hungary and Poland.
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Job Advertisement: CEO of 4liberty.eu Network
Are you passionate about advancing freedom, liberty, and democratic values across Europe? Do you have a vision for influencing public policy and expanding think tank networks? If so, 4liberty.eu is looking for a visionary leader to become its next CEO!
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Trump's victory over the liberal conspiracy and Slovakia's new strategic partners. Disinformation agents legitimise cooperation with Russia and China
The Slovak disinformation ecosystem was shaken by the US presidential election. Donald Trump's win was presented as a disaster for the so-called progressive political elites and the media. The official government visit to China was accompanied by the publication of celebratory posts on social media. In addition to the visit to China, Prime Minister Robert Fico's appearance on the Russian propaganda television programme Rossiya-1 was supposed to be a manifestation of a sovereign foreign policy on all four sides of the world.
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From Poland with Love. October
Poland is at a crossroads with its new migration strategy and other significant political and cultural developments. In a dramatic policy shift, Prime Minister Donald Tusk introduced a strategy to strictly control migration, including a temporary suspension of asylum rights at the Belarusian border. At the same time, the government proposed a landmark bill to legalize same-sex civil unions, a first in Poland's history.
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Episode 2. The Baltics: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia – An overview.
The Baltics' digital transformation: Estonia leads with e-voting and e-residency, while Lithuania and Latvia make strides in cybersecurity and digital education. How do they compare?
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The Baltic Vision: 35 Years of Progress, Unity, and Resilience
From September 13th to 15th, the Prague office of the FNF, in cooperation with the JuLis, held the fourth Eastern European Summit in Tallinn, Estonia. There, young liberals from Central and Eastern Europe elaborated a new position paper.
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World conflict, nuclear war and totalitarianism in the EU. Disinformers continue their attacks on the West and Ukraine
The disinformation ecosystem has returned to glorifying Russia and discrediting attacks on Ukraine. In particular, the so-called victory plan for Ukraine, which was presented by President Zelensky, has become a target. The European Union (EU) institutions also faced attacks and lies from disinformation agents.
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A gesture of solidarity with the victims of the terrorist act in 2022 has become a pretext for toxic and hateful attacks
The second anniversary of the terrorist attack in front of Bratislava's Tepláreň club on 12 October 2022 prompted not only a wave of solidarity, but also toxic and hateful posts on social media. Both politicians, as well as other actors from the disinformation environment, used the situation to sensationalize, boost fear and disillusionment about the alleged brainwashing of children, which is supposed to take place on a widespread basis in Slovak schools.
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Czech Senate & Regional Election Dynamics: Negative Campaigns, Floods and Victory of Opposition
Low voter turnout marked the Czech Senate and regional elections, with opposition party ANO making significant gains. The ruling ODS suffered losses, signaling shifting political dynamics in the country.
