OTT Talks series: Think tanks in a changing Europe
How do think tank leaders navigate shifting political landscapes, financial constraints, and evolving policy demands? Discover their insights in our latest podcast series.
Across Europe, many think tanks are facing an uncertain future. As countries transition to upper-middle-income status, international donors and EU institutions have scaled back funding for civil society. Meanwhile, domestic demand for evidence-based policy research remains inconsistent, and in some cases, non-existent. This shift has left think tanks struggling to sustain their work at a time when democratic systems across the region are under increasing pressure.
Think Tanks in a Changing Europe—a podcast series by On Think Tanks, supported by the Open Society Foundations—explores how think tanks across the continent are navigating these challenges. In this series, Goran Buldioski and Enrique Mendizabal speak with former and current European think tank directors who have led their organisations for over a decade. They share insights on the strategic decisions they made to grow, adapt, or shift focus, how they navigated political challenges, and whether they still believe in the role of think tanks in their countries and regions.
Explore the first season below, along with an analysis by the hosts highlighting key lessons and challenges uncovered through these conversations.
Episode 4 | Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Navigating uncertain times in Poland
In a rapidly shifting political landscape, how can think tanks continue to provide independent, evidence-based policy advice? What happens when international funding declines, domestic support remains uncertain, and democratic pressures intensify?
In this episode, we speak with Karolina Wigura, co-founder and board member of Kultura Liberalna, one of Poland’s leading think tanks. Drawing from over a decade of leadership, she reflects on the major transformations in the think tank ecosystem, the challenges of sustaining independent research, and the role of liberal thought in a country often associated with conservatism.
Episode 3 | Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Lessons from the South and East of Europe
How have think tanks in Southern and Eastern Europe adapted to shifting political landscapes, evolving funding models, and growing challenges to policy influence?
In this episode, Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), talks about the transformation of think tanks in the region over the past decade. From navigating political uncertainty to sustaining independent research, Vessela shares key insights from her leadership experience. She also talks about broader European trends in thinktanking, somewhat more diverse than in the continent’s south and east. Through this conversation, we have the opportunity to explore the personal side of running a think tank—what keeps leaders motivated, the toughest challenges they face, and what the future holds for policy institutions in an era of disruption.
Episode 2 | Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Adapting to new realities in Hungary
In a region where democracy faces growing challenges and international funding is diminishing, how can think tanks remain independent, impactful, and relevant?
In this episode, Péter Krekó, Director of the Political Capital Institute in Hungary, shares insights into the evolving role of think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe. We discuss how think tank leaders navigate shrinking donor support, increasing political pressures, and the inconsistent demand for evidence-based policy advice.
Join us as we uncover the strategic decisions, successes, and challenges of running a think tank in a changing Europe, and explore the critical role these institutions play in shaping policy in uncertain times.
Pilot episode | Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Adapting to new realities in the Western Balkans
In an era marked by political shifts, economic transitions, and changing donor landscapes, how do think tanks in the Western Balkans remain relevant and impactful?
This episode with Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic, former director of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, dives into the unique challenges and opportunities facing policy institutions in the Balkans region. From navigating democratic backsliding to adapting to reduced international funding, we explore how think tank leaders are innovating, building trust, and shaping the future of policy in a rapidly evolving world.
Bonus content:
More interviews with European think tank leaders
OTT has documented the stories of think tank leaders from across the world. This page brings together the accounts of European think tank leaders alongside their peers.