Assistant professor Ivan Ivanov, attended The World Forum on Democracy & Peace 2024, held from July 26th to 28th in Berlin, Germany.

The forum titled “United in Advancing Development, Democracy, and Peace” gathered esteemed figures from international politics and academia.

Attendees included diplomatic and political representatives, scholars, academics, and young professionals, all united to inspire new ways of thinking and foster innovative and original ideas through interdisciplinary dialogue.

The event was organized by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD), an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1999 in the USA, with headquarters in the USA and Germany.

In his address, Ivanov tackled the pressing issue of “democratic recession.” He explored the challenges facing democratic institutions worldwide and the importance of revitalizing democratic values in the face of rising authoritarianism.

In addition, Ivanov discussed the possibility of collaboration between the International Balkan University and ICD. This potential partnership aims to develop a master's program in Cultural Diplomacy, to be based in Skopje, further expanding educational opportunities in this vital field.

Beyond his keynote address, Ivanov also moderated sessions with several high-profile leaders:

Catherine Ashton: Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and First Vice-President of the European Commission.

Mladen Ivanic: Former Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Natalia Gavrilita: Former Prime Minister of Moldova.

Meenakshi Lekhi: Former Minister of State for External Affairs of India.

These sessions delved into critical issues in international politics and peacebuilding.