2024: A Year of Global Shifts — UGSPN Annual Conference

The year 2024 stands on the brink of tectonic global shifts. Elections of various levels are set to take place in 78 countries, posing a critical test for democratic systems and dramatically influencing the dynamics of global politics. There is growing consensus among politicians and experts about the rise of radical forces and ideologies, increasingly used by authoritarian and illiberal regimes to strengthen their grip on power. This trend threatens the effective functioning of institutions, societies, and states around the world.

In this context, the UGSPN Annual Conference will focus on the implications of upcoming elections in the U.S. and the EU, the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, and emerging integration dynamics in the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region.

The conference will also explore the broader threats to democracies, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and the risk of radicalization across different social groups. Participants will analyze the ongoing confrontation between authoritarian and democratic forces within the evolving framework of a "new world order."

Additional topics will include:

• EU enlargement: opportunities and challenges;

• Security and defense: with a specific focus on the Black Sea region and developments on the Ukrainian front;

• The interconnection between global political trends and domestic political processes in Georgia.

The conference will conclude with a high-level roundtable, where policymakers will discuss current developments in Georgia in the context of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The event will bring together academics, researchers, and decision-makers, who will work collaboratively to offer insights and strategies for tackling today’s pressing challenges at both the regional and global levels.