G.O.R.K.I. Talks

Русские не сдаются! - комментарий главы центра G.O.R.K.I. СПбГУ по о трагических событиях. «В ходе кровавого теракта в «Крокус сити холле» было зверски убито более 140 человек и еще больше людей получили ранения и увечья. Сейчас полным ходом идет расследование. Но всего лишь через два часа после теракта официальные представители США уже во всеуслышание заявили, что за терактом стоит не Украина, а «Исламское государство» (ИГ, террористическая организация, запрещена в РФ). Вечер пятницы запомнился неразберихой и сумятицей, но к воскресенью туман начал рассеиваться и стало очевидно, что следы преступления ведут вовсе не на восток, а на запад» Читать статью

During the first day of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre’s seminar «The Northern Sea Route: A Geopolitical and Commercial Assessment. Simulation of an Arctic Council Session» professors of SPbU, Pacific National University and invited guests from Iceland and Belgium prepared reports on the legal status and history of the Northern Sea Route. The participants discussed the prospects for commercialization of this waterway, which could be considered year-round as of this year, compared with existing trade routes. The seminar attempted to assess the commercial and geopolitical ambitions of Arctic Council members and observers. Particular emphasis was placed on Russia’s cooperation with China, which has been an observer at the Arctic Council since 2013. It was concluded that China, although interested in the development of SMEs, and above all in the resources of the Arctic region, was wary of large investments due to the threat of sanctions. Colleagues from Belgium and Iceland stressed the need to continue cooperation with Russia and the Arctic Council, and at a more personal informal level (expert-to-expert). It is only through joint efforts that States can ensure the sustainable development of the region, which is becoming more accessible every year due to global warming, and therefore more dangerous from the point of view of geopolitics. We are looking forward to seeing the participants on the second part of the seminar Simulation model of the Arctic Council Session "The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment working group", next Saturday at 10:00 am.

Dear colleagues, Due to the high demand for lectures by Dr. Karin Kneissl we decided to do a one hour lecture plus debate with participants every second Monday at 17:00. The lecture topics will be published in advance, please register in time.

To mark the 25th anniversary of NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, Karin Kneissl, head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre, gave a lecture at the Kelch Mansion today. The alliance's airstrikes lasted 78 days and targeted not only military infrastructure but also civilians. The events of those days claimed an enormous number of lives and marked the beginning of the end of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Despite all attempts at peace, the echoes of the military conflict can still be heard today, and the question of Kosovo's legal status remains unresolved. Today's lecture began with a minute of silence to honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the terrible terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall. Unfortunately, the world is full of cruelty, but the human spirit is unshakable, and together we are strong.

The lecture will be held on Monday 25th.

Dear colleagues, In the light of the horrible terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, please note that all events of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre are postponed for a week. Speakers, guests and students who have registered on seminar: «The Northern Sea Route: A Geopolitical and Commercial Assessment. Simulation of an Arctic Council Session» have been informed of new dates of the seminar due to email. We express our condolences to all the victims and the families of the victims.

«The 25th anniversary of beginning NATO coalition bombing the territory of sovereign Yugoslavia: historical trace and impact on modern geopolitics» The G.O.R.K.I. Centre of SPbU will host a meeting dedicated to the tragic events of the North Atlantic Alliance's aggression against Yugoslavia. From March to June 1999, 2.3 thousand cruise missiles and 14 thousand bombs were rained down on the small sovereign state in the centre of Europe, killing more than two thousand civilians of Yugoslavia, including children.   For a quarter of a century, attempts by the collective West to change historical memory and to present the act of aggression against the sovereign State of Yugoslavia as a peacekeeping operation, to forget the victims of the bombing and to shift the blame for fuelling wars in the Balkans to the Serbian people have not ceased. Karin Kneissl was an eyewitness to the tragic 78 days of bombing Yugoslavia in 1999. At the meeting at the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of SPbU she will give a lecture on the historical development of the Balkan region and the impact of the events of 25 years ago on the current geopolitical situation.   The event will also include a private screening of a documentary film dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the NATO coalition bombing of Yugoslavia, which was filmed with the participation of leading public and political figures from Russia and abroad. Registration Time: 25 March, 17:00 Venue: 28 Tchaikovsky St. (Kelch Mansion) G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU

Новый комментарий Карин Кнайсль для издания «Ведомости» — Символ бессилия. «Россия, которую коллективный Запад пытается изолировать своими «санкциями из ада», перебросила свои основные торговые потоки в направлении восток-юго-восток, подобно тому как британцы более 200 лет назад проделали то же самое в направлении запад-северо-запад» Читать статью

Lecture for the Faculty of International Relations 'Who Killed Diplomacy? From the post-1919 decline of diplomacy to its destruction in 2022' By Dr Karin Kneissl, head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of St Petersburg University, in the foreign service of Austria (1989-1998), teacher of international law at the University of Vienna and Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (Austria), Webster University (Missouri, USA), European Business School in Rheingau (Germany), Saint Joseph University - Beirut (Lebanon), etc; and Federal Foreign Minister of Austria (2017-2019). Dr Kneissl was forced to quit the EU due to her ongoing cooperation with Russia in 2022 despite all political pressure. In a 45-minute survey of what diplomacy is about, why and how it differs from studying international relations, Karin Kneissl will familiarise the audience with the theory and practice of the craft and art of diplomacy. Current events such as the EU ambassadors’ boycotting of an invitation by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov illustrate the death of diplomacy in the West. The lecture will be followed by a 20-minute debate with the audience. Date: 18th of March, 15:30 Address: Smolny passage 1/3, entrance 8, 124 auditorium

Seminar Announcement: «The Northern Sea Route: A Geopolitical and Commercial Assessment. Simulation of an Arctic Council Session» Dear colleagues, We are pleased to extend an invitation to our third seminar hosted by the Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues (G.O.R.K.I.) Centre SPbU. This seminar, scheduled for 23 and 30 March 2024, will be held at the Kelch Mansion, Tchaikovsky Street, 28. The primary focus of this seminar will be a simulation of multilateral negotiations, imitating a meeting of the Arctic Council. Participants will engage in discussions surrounding the challenges and opportunities presented by the development of the Northern Sea Route, particularly in light of recent geopolitical events affecting traditional trade routes such as the Suez Canal. The Northern Sea Route, while presenting its own set of challenges, offers a promising alternative due to shifting climate conditions and technological advancements. Through lectures given by esteemed professors from St Petersburg University and the Pacific National University, participants will gain insights into the current state of global maritime trade. This knowledge will inform their decision-making process as they represent their respective governments in the simulation exercise. We encourage active participation in finding solutions to the challenges posed by the development of the Northern Sea Route. The simulation, set to commence on 30 March, will provide a platform for critical analysis and strategic decision-making within the framework of the Arctic Council. Please note that registration for the seminar is required, with a registration fee of 1,500 roubles. Registration and payment must be completed by 20 March 2024. Additionally, attendance at the lectures scheduled for 23 March is compulsory for participation in the simulation on 30 March. For registration and inquiries, please contact us at gorki.mock@spbu.ru. We look forward to your active participation in this timely and important seminar.

Main statements from the 58th episode of the podcast «Unipolar-Multipolar» with Karin Kneissl.

Today the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU held the 3rd Business Breakfast entitled «Russia and Ibero-America in a Turbulent World: Six Months from the Russia – Latin America International Parliamentary Conference». Professors, experts and students had an opportunity to discuss the current events and controversial issues in a warm atmosphere.

Karin Kneissl attended the World Youth Festival 2024 in Sochi. At the session organized by the Russian Znanie Society she acted as a key speaker with a lecture "Sanctions - Symbols of Failure", explained how measures aimed at weakening the Russian economy turned into problems for those who took them. Then Head of G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU participated in the "Human Capital" session, where discussed the real prospects for leaders in today's world. During the event, Karin Kneissl had an open dialogue with ladies and gentlemen on the "Multinational Unity" track. She also participated in a number of interviews for major Russian muss media. During the Forum Karin Kneissl had a conversation with young, ambitious people from around the world. We invite them to join our events at the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU to continue discussion. Photo by Maxim Blinov / RIA Novosti @rain_ru

Lecture "Sanctions - symbols of failure" by Karin Kneissl, head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU, was held on the stage of the MARATHON ZNANIE.PERVYE, which takes place as part of the World Youth Festival in Sochi (WYF 2024).

An ordinary evening at the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of St. Petersburg State University — the delegation from the Federal Republic of Somalia visited us!

The Europeans want to go to Russia: Head Centre G.O.R.K.I. SPbU Karin Kneissl at the World Youth Festival. "I was very impressed by this amazing willingness of people in Russia to overcome problems, no matter how difficult they are. I've been here since the fall, and I haven't heard such a formulation at all: "this is a problem”. That's the standard German answer. This is not the case in Russia, no matter at what level they encounter difficulties. This feature of Russians has been underestimated by those who impose sanctions." Read more

On 29 February, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of St. Petersburg University hosted a Roundtable ‘AI and Geopolitics: The Case of West Asia’. The head of the Centre, Karin Kneissl gave an opening speech. Then the Introduction speech was given by Sergey Nakvasin, Ovanes Petrosyan, Alexander Yakovenko. The participants of the roundtable presented their reports on AI: ⁃ ‘Geopolitics and AI: a view from West Asia’ by Ziad Shahoud ⁃ ‘Competencies and risks in the age of AI’ by Dmitry Sokolov ⁃ ‘AI in the Middle East: Challenges and Opportunities’ by Konstantin Pantserev ⁃ ‘Potential and risks of using Large Language Models in international relations’ by Vadim Kozyulin ⁃ ‘The relationship between the global political process and the development of AI technologies’ by Sergey Nakvasin ⁃ ‘AI for Military Applications as a Geopolitical Tool’ by Ovanes Petrosyan ⁃ ‘Foundations of legal regulation of AI in modern geopolitical context: a hypothesis regarding the differences in understanding the concept of «self» as the key socio-ethical factor of conflicting approaches among civilizations’ by Vladislav Arkhipov We will collaborate with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence Development and the SPbU Centre for Artificial Intelligence to jointly develop our recommendations. The topic of Artificial Intelligence has come to stay.