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.
This episode is a part of our series, Think Tanks in a Changing Europe, supported by the Open Society Foundations.