Delphi Talks

Is there “gaslighting” in politics? What are the rules for creating a counter-narrative to reality to serve a political agenda? Is there a way for humanity to defend against a world of deep-fakes and and post-truth?Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, this podcast features a fascinating discussion between renowned Greek historian Lena Divani with Kathimerini journalist Margarita Pournara, taking us on a historical journey, in Greece and beyond, on the use of deception, lies, half-truths and misinformation for political purposes.

Can Europe provide solutions to the West's existential crisis? Is the continent sleepwalking into a further diminished international role and geopolitical irrelevance? Can a “Kantian” Europe still thrive vs a “Hobbesian” rest of the world?Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, this podcast presents a captivating discussion between Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy PM & MFA (2013 –2015) of Greece and Pavlos Tsimas, journalist of SKAI TV and Ta Nea newspaper, on Europe's quest to achieve strategic autonomy and position itself as a credible world actor, in the face of unprecedented geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine, the Middle East and beyond.

Radoslaw SikorskiAt the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, Poland's outspoken Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski sat down with British journalist Nick Gowing to discuss Europe's - and the West's - response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.They discussed the EU's troubles at unity against russian aggression and becoming more resilient to foreign interference, which ranges from military capacity to allowing russian interference in election campaigns and public discourse. His sobering takeaway: The war will be decided on economic capacity, so the issue is who will outlast whom. And Ukraine cannot outlast Russia without the West's support.Is this the end of the post - Cold War era? This existential challenge will define our children's future, Sikorski concludes. 

How do we get back to the pre October 7th rapprochement of different actors in the region? How was the security architecture shaping up before Hamas's attack on Israel? What is the role of leadership and how the regional and  global security architectures intersect? How can the West “win” the global South from China, by bringing the two global conflicts of our time, Ukraine and Gaza, to a fair and sustainable resolution?Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, this podcast presents an in-depth conversation on the future of Middle East security, featuring some of the top foreign policy and security experts of the region.  THE GAZA WAR AND THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST SECURITY ARCHITECTUREEbtesam Al-Ketbi, President, Emirates Policy Center, UAEAhmed Aboudouh, Associate Fellow, Chatham House and Head of China Studies at Emirates Policy Center, UKDlawer Ala' Aldeen, President, Middle East Research Institute, IraqAbdullah Al Saud, Assistant Director General for Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi ArabiaModerator: Ivana Dragicevic, Journalist, N1 TV, Croatia

A reflective conversation between leading public intellectual Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia and ELIAMEP's Loukas Tsoukalis, on the prospects of future EU enlargements, in both the Western Balkans and Ukraine.Is an EU of 35 realistic? Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, Krastev and Tsoukalis offer valuable insights on how a future enlargement will be different than previous ones, how can it be achieved, whether Western Balkans integration in the EU is directly linked to the outcome of the war in Ukraine and how demographics change the nature of the democratic process. Ultimately, can Ukraine change Europe from a project of peace to a project of war and peace?

Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, best selling author and globally prominent geopolitical analyst Robert Kaplan delivers a tour de force on the prospects and aspirations of the wider Middle East, in conversation with Reuters' Hugo Dixon.Drawing from his new book “The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy, from the Mediterranean to China”, Kaplan explains that contrary to the usual narrative that engulfs the region (democracy vs authoritarianism), a vast part of the world, ranging from North Africa to Western China is influenced by a deeper theme: division between imperial tyranny and fear of anarchy.Kaplan then analyzes developments in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and of course Israel and Palestine, to end with a tone of optimism: Change can come to the region, but does not come according to a Western script.

Drawing from a wealth of experience as a 4 star US Army General and Director of the CIA, David H. Petraeus delivers an insightful overview of the state of play of different conflict regions of the world, in conversation with Kathimerini's Athanassios Ellis.Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, Petraeus states that the future of Ukraine relies on the triptych: military innovation, men, and foreign assistance. On the Gaza conflict, he puts forward the proposition that civilian casualties should be kept to a minimum, otherwise we are sowing the seeds of a Hamas 2.0. The conversation concludes with Petraeus' thoughts on Turkey and the complicated relationship with the US, and the bright future of Greek - American elections.

One of the world's most read authors and historians, Anne Applebaum spoke in the Delphi Economic Forum last April with Ta Nea's Michalis Mitsos, on a critical question of our time: Why do people who live in democracies find authoritarianism appealing?Drawing inspiration from her newly published book “Autocracy, Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World”, Applebaum explains how autocratic figures like Russia's President Vladimir Putin sell the image of a supporter of traditional values and position themselves as “deniers” of Western values. For Applebaum, the conclusion is clear: in an era of radical change like today, the need for a strongman arises. And to counter that, we must devine a kind of “tough liberalism”, which is not naive about the realities of our time and the extent of foreign influence in our democracies.

In a sobering conversation with the Financial Times' Peter Spiegel, Phillip Hildebrand, vice chairman of BlackRock offers his expert outlook on the causes and possible longevity of the current global inflation crisis.Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, the conversation provides answers to a series of critical questions for the future of the european economy: could AI provide the world with a burst of innovation necessary to overcome the fall of the global production capacity caused by the pandemic, geopolitical turmoil and the antagonism with China? What lies ahead for the European banking sector, in a continent still lacking a Capital Markets Union and a Banking Union? How can Europe avoid losing its industrial competitiveness capacity following this crisis and preserve the European way of life?

Arthur Larok highlights refugee challenges, poverty, and empowerment for a just futureRecorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, Larok, drawing from his own experience as a refugee, shares his insights and experiences on the challenges faced by vulnerable communities around the world. The discussion focuses on poverty, injustice, and the importance of empowering people to build a just and sustainable future.

Dr. Wang discusses China's rising global role and geopolitical impacts.Recorded at the Delphi Economic Forum in April 2024, Wang gives a powerful overview of China's rising role in the global economy, and shares his insights on how this trend impacts geopolitical developments and carves a new role for China from the Middle East, to Ukraine, to Africa.

Robert Kagan discusses threats to US-led post-WWII world order.Recorded at the recent Delphi Economic Forum, Kagan talks about his book “Jungle Grows Back: America and Our Imperiled World”, making the claim that the post-WWII world order established by the US is under threat. The discussion focuses on why US engagement in world affairs is essential and the dangers of American retreat from its leadership role.

Niall Ferguson on Greece's geopolitical navigation and potential new Cold War.Recorded at the recent Delphi Economic Forum, globally renowned historical and public intellectual Niall Ferguson on how Greece can navigate the grave geopolitical circumstances of today. Is humanity heading towards a new Cold War, possibly more dangerous as the first one?

The 9th edition of our Annual Conference took place in Delphi and Arachova on April 10-13, 2024Arthur Larok, Secretary General, Action Aid International, UKwithNiki Lymperaki, Journalist, Co-Founder at pod.gr, Greece

The 9th edition of our Annual Conference took place in Delphi and Arachova on April 10-13, 2024Henry Huiyao Wang, Founder & President, Center for China and Globalization, ChinaChair: Faye Doulgkeri, Journalist, Euronews

The 9th edition of our Annual Conference took place in Delphi and Arachova on April 10-13, 2024Robert Kagan, Stephen & Barbara Friedman Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, USAwithAlexis Papahelas, Executive Editor, Kathimerini

The 9th edition of our Annual Conference took place in Delphi and Arachova on April 10-13, 2024Niall Ferguson, Sr Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Sr Fellow, Belfer Center for Science & Int'l Affairs, Harvard University

The 8th edition of our Annual Conference took place in the town of Delphi on April 26-29, 2023Carl Bildt, Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-1994)Chair: Tom Nuttall, Senior Digital Editor, The Economist, UK

The 8th edition of our Annual Conference took place in the town of Delphi on April 26-29, 2023Rick Tumlinson, Founding Partner; Founder, SpaceFund; EarthLight Foundation, USAChair: Alexandra Gouta, Journalist, Athens News Agency / Macedonian Press Agency

The 8th edition of our Annual Conference took place in the town of Delphi on April 26-29, 2023Alexander Stubb, PM of Finland (2014-2015); Director, School of Transnational Governance, EUI, ItalyChair: Fred Pleitgen, Journalist, CNN

This Session took part during the Delphi Economic Forum VIII,  in the town of Delphi on April 26-29, 2023Joseph S. Broz, Ph.D., Vice President, Quantum Growth and Markets, IBM QuantumBenno Broer, CCO, PASQAL Chair: Yorgos Koutsoyannopoulos, PhD, Vice President of Corporate Development, Ansys

This Session took part during the Delphi Economic Forum VIII,  in the town of Delphi on April 26-29, 2023Speakers:Fokion Karavias, CEO, Eurobank, GreecePavlos Mylonas, CEO, National Bank of GreeceChair: Peter Spiegel, US Managing Editor, The Financial Times, USA

Delphi Economic Forum Digital - June 9-12, 2020In Conversation:Sir Rob Wainright, Senior Partner, Deloitte& Christos Danezis, General Manager Sigmalive, Cyprus

Were Kozloduy nuclear power plant and Greek earthquakes ever a reason to panic? Just how much did Chernobyl affect people’s holidays? After the bee disappears, will we all die or just be short of honey? Is according to Trump and the Germans a Wall the answer to all our problems? Directeur d’études at the École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales and Professor emeritus at the University of Athens, George B. Dertilis, explains angry and appeasing tweets, worst case scenarios, the Armageddon and Irony in a totally off-key lecture. This episode is in Greek language.

It’s all there in the Greeks. Demosthenes talked about the truth spoken in all freedom and Aristotle of the wisdom of the crowd. Yet today, in the era of the smartphone, echo chamber effects and filter bubbles seem to gain ground towards polarization, whereas having uncensored, diverse and trustworthy media seems an unattainable ideal. We used to think that the internet would set us free, so what did exactly happen? British author and Professor of European Studies at Oxford University, Timothy Garton Ash shares his reflections on the role of the media in people’s political decision-making and choices.

Which is the way the world is going? How exactly is China rising? Does Europe end in the Mediterranean, or the Sahara? Will the Balkans ever escape history and geography? Everything you always wanted to know about Eurasia but were afraid to ask. Renowned American author Robert D. Kaplan talks about all this and more in an exciting conversation with top Greek journalist Alexis Papahelas