Georgia and Moldova are on the ‘frontline’ of the crisis in Euro-Atlantic security. In Georgia, the contested victory of the ruling Georgian Dream party has raised questions about the nation’s democratic resilience and foreign policy orientation. Meanwhile, Moldova has seen contrasting fortunes and challenges. The pro-European PAS party's win in the presidential elections may help cement the country’s further steps towards European integration.
The second Trump presidency casts a long shadow over these states and the future of Euro-Atlantic security. It has renewed debates regarding the European response to Russian aggression, both in Ukraine and through hybrid war interventions. President Trump’s victory has also exposed again the democratic fragility and authoritarian risks facing once stable western states.
Meet the Speakers and Chair
Hon. Mihai Popșoi is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. As one of the country’s foremost advocates for European integration, he has been instrumental in advancing Moldova's democratic reforms and strengthening its ties with the European Union. Before assuming his current position, Popșoi served as Deputy Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, where he focused on foreign policy and governance. With a distinguished career in diplomacy and public service, he has contributed significantly to promoting stability and cooperation in Eastern Europe. Popșoi holds advanced degrees in political science and international relations.
Dr. Natalie Sabanadze is a senior fellow at Chatham House and a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in international relations and European policy. She previously served as Georgia's Ambassador to the European Union, where she played a critical role in advancing Georgia's European integration and strengthening its international partnerships. With a PhD from the University of Oxford, Dr. Sabanadze has contributed to numerous high-level policy initiatives on conflict resolution, regional geopolitics, and democratization. Her distinguished career combines academic excellence and diplomatic expertise, making her a leading figure in shaping policy frameworks for the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe.
Alexander Scrivener serves as Research Director at the Democratic Security Institute (DSI), where he leads policy research on advancing democratic security across Eurasia. A founding member of DSI, Scrivener brings deep expertise in the Caucasus region, international development, and institutional reform. His work spans policy advocacy and media analysis, with past roles at the BBC, International Criminal Court, and Transnational Institute. Scrivener’s insights on democracy and security have been published in prominent outlets including The Guardian, The Independent, and Open Democracy. Based in Tbilisi, he is a committed advocate for the democratic transformation of Eastern Europe and the wider region.
Dr. Lincoln Mitchell is a political analyst, author, and scholar specializing in democracy, governance, and political development. He serves on the faculty of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where he focuses on comparative politics and international affairs. Dr. Mitchell has worked extensively on democracy promotion and conflict resolution in the former Soviet Union, the Caucasus, and other transitional regions. A prolific author, he has published multiple books and articles on American politics and global democracy. Dr. Mitchell regularly provides expert analysis to policymakers, media outlets, and academic audiences worldwide.
Dr. Dina Gusejnova is Associate Professor in International History at LSE. Her research interests include modern European political, intellectual and cultural history of transitional periods, especially the revolutions of 1918-20 and the two World Wars. She is the author of European Elites and Ideas of Empire, 1917-1957 (Cambridge University Press, 2016, pbk 2018) and an editor of the volume Cosmopolitanism in Conflict: Imperial Encounters from the Seven Years' War to the Cold War (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). She is currently working on a cultural and intellectual history of forced displacement and internment in the Second World War.
This event is organised in collaboration with the Democratic Security Institute. It is part of a series of webinars on Trump 2.0 and the age of polycrisis organised by the LSE Conflict and Civicness Research Groups based at LSE IDEAS, the in-house foreign policy think tank of the London School of Economics and Political Science. These sessions from our research community provide a series of 60 minute briefings on the impacts of Trump’s second term for some of the issues and contexts that we research. This event is organised by Ukraine team, as part of our work for the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep), funded by UK International Development from the UK government. However, the views expressed are those of the panelists and do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
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