Professor Elena Korosteleva is featured in the Democracy Support DialoguesLink opens in a new window, a podcast that takes a closer look at the European Union's support for democratic politics in its Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods. Professor Korosteleva discusses democratic practices and the future of democracy in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood.

The episode is available through the following streaming services:

• SpotifyLink opens in a new window
• Amazon Music
• Apple PodcastsLink opens in a new window

SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window, a transnational research project, where the University of Warwick is a partner, launched its podcast series “Democracy Support Dialogues”. In this podcast series we will explore the European Union’s democracy support in the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods. From best practices to shortcomings of Europe’s democracy support agenda in its Neighbourhoods, this 12-episode series walks through the policies of a variety of institutions and states to harness our collective democratic knowledge. Join the host, Fabian Schöppner, as he speaks with a range of guests and experts on democracy support in Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Palestine and Tunisia.

The first episode featuring Professor Michelle Pace, Roskilde University, is available at the following platforms:

• SpotifyLink opens in a new window
• Amazon Music
• Apple PodcastsLink opens in a new window

On 19 Feb 2024 Dr Aijan Sharshenova joined our SHAPEDEM project (and IGSD team) as a lead Research Fellow. Prior to this Aijan was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Dr Sharshenova holds a PhD in Politics awarded at the University of Leeds, UK. Prior to joining the OSCE Academy, Dr Sharshenova worked at the UN and UNDP country offices in the Middle East, and taught courses in International Politics and Academic Writing. Aijan’s research interests include public diplomacy, the EU and Russian policies towards Central Asia, EU policies towards the eastern neighbourhood, and international development. Recently, Dr Sharshenova published her book ‘The European Union’s Democracy Promotion in Central Asia’ available here.

Aijan replaced Dr Asya Kudlenko, who is currently on maternity leave.

At the invitation of Judy Dempsey, Carnegie Europe, scholars, policy-makers and practitioners debate EU Democracy Promotion in this publication: "European democracy faces threats from both within and outside. To counter them, Europe needs leaders who are serious about upholding democratic values and addressing citizens' grievances'. Professor Korosteleva offered her take, as part of her work on SHAPEDEM-EU project. For more information please visit here.

The SHAPEDEM-EU project, bringing together 12 members of the consortium, across Europe and beyond, had its first mid-term review meeting with the European Commission and appointed by the Commission independent reviewers. The Steering Committee of the project, involving all team leads, presented its work on various Work Packages, and the project's cross-cutting issues including digital transformation, ethics and gender. The Commission representative was very pleased to see the project's progress, including all the extra activities that participants initiated themselves, going well beyond the project's call, to ensure knowledge co-production and its dissemination further afield.