Goran Buldioski

Europeans are ready to spend.

If we want legitimacy, we do not need explaining, we need a deep-rooted purpose, motivation and a debate shaped by democratic values.

More in our new piece (with @NicuPopescu):
“Who Wants to Defend Europe?” @projectsyndicate.bsky.social Read in the link below

(3/3)

What’s worth defending?
Not just territory — but democracy, pluralism, civic space.

Rearmament without democratic purpose risks becoming just another culture war.

That’s not security. That’s surrender.

(2/3)

Europe is rearming fast — more tanks, more ammo, bigger budgets.

But the real risk isn’t just military.
It’s political.

If democratic leaders don’t shape the why of defence, the far right will.
And that won’t make Europe safer.

(1/3)

From Soft to Hard Power - The European Liberal Forum EU leaders acknowledge that they must rise to the demands of hard power global competition.

On 13 May: How to reprogram mainstream parties to win elections while boosting defence posture with @gbuldioski.bsky.social and Magda Jakubowska and RENEW MEPs hosted by @eurliberalforum.bsky.social
READ: liberalforum.eu/publication/... and let me know if interested

From Soft to Hard Power - The European Liberal Forum EU leaders acknowledge that they must rise to the demands of hard power global competition.

👉 #Defence spending shouldn’t be seen as a simple budgetary choice but as a cornerstone of national security and economic prosperity. Check out our paper by @wojciechprzybylski.bsky.social and @gbuldioski.bsky.social on how #Europe could become a #HardPower. 📖Read here: bit.ly/4j1SJvB

On 13 May we spoke with @gbuldioski.bsky.social at @europarl.europa.eu policy debate organised by @eurliberalforum.bsky.social on how mainstream parties strategies that boost our defence posture and help win elections. Read our paper: liberalforum.eu/publication/... More ideas to follow

Featured voices include:​
Sonja Stojanovic-Gajic (Belgrade Centre for Security Policy)​
Peter Krekó (Political Capital Institute, Hungary)​
@vtcherneva.bsky.social Tcherneva (ECFR)​
KarolinaWigura (Kultura Liberalna, Poland)​
Fabian Zuleeg (European Policy Center, Brussels)
onthinktanks.org/podcast/

🎙️ New Podcast Series: Think Tanks in a Changing Europe

Explore how European think tank leaders navigate shrinking funding, political pressures, and policy demands.
Enrique Mendizabal and I engage with directors sharing insights on sustaining impact in uncertain times: onthinktanks.org/podcast/

Europe’s Democrats Must Forge a Will to Fight | by Wojciech Przybylski & Goran Buldioski - Project Syndicate Wojciech Przybylski & Goran Buldioski think European leaders' most urgent security task is to nurture citizens' resolve to defend their countries.

I liked your podcast. One aspect to emphasize is the willingness of Europeans to defend themselves. Much more needs to be done on this aspect. Here is my latest piece on @projectsyndicate.bsky.social about it: www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e...

More defense spending ≠ more security.
Europe needs to fix its strategic mindset.
What if the real “capacity gap” is psychological? Read the full article @projectsyndicate.bsky.social here: www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/e... 5/5

🚨 EU's Readiness 2030 sounds great.
But readiness isn’t just about logistics—it’s about resolve.
And that’s what's in short supply in European capitals. 4/5

Europe’s defense debate needs less bureaucracy and more bravery.
💬 “While Europeans cherish peace, they largely lack the resolve to fight for it.”
The real arsenal? Conviction. 3/5

Decades of peace have made Europe safe, prosperous—and dangerously complacent.
The EU’s defense push won’t work unless it sparks a will to fight rooted in democratic values, not just fear. 2/5

Europe is investing in tanks, missiles, and coordination. But what it lacks most isn’t firepower—it’s fire in the belly.
Until Europeans believe their way of life is worth defending, no strategy will stick.
@wojciechprzybylski.bsky.social and I wrote for @projectsyndicate.bsky.social. 1/5.

@eurliberalforum.bsky.social

From Soft to Hard Power - The European Liberal Forum EU leaders acknowledge that they must rise to the demands of hard power global competition.

The actions listed in the paper are an excellent start. But defense is much more than only procurement of kit and increasing military. The people side should be neglected. Here are some ideas pro-democracy politicians could do: liberalforum.eu/publication/...

From Soft to Hard Power - The European Liberal Forum EU leaders acknowledge that they must rise to the demands of hard power global competition.

Excellent. Just, instead of asking: Are Europeans ready to militarize? pro-democracy politicians should ask the following: Are Europeans ready to protect themselves and their own way of life? Defense is so much more than only equipment and armies. Read here more: liberalforum.eu/publication/...

From Soft to Hard Power - The European Liberal Forum EU leaders acknowledge that they must rise to the demands of hard power global competition.

This report is a great basis for further action. Defense is so much more than weapons and procurement, it is about societal readiness, read here more: liberalforum.eu/publication/...

From Soft to Hard Power - The European Liberal Forum EU leaders acknowledge that they must rise to the demands of hard power global competition.

Thank you for your excellent ideas and suggestions. Defense is not only about procurement and re-armament. It is also about the right mindset and support by Europeans. You can find some ideas on how pro-democracy politicians in Europe could make it better here: liberalforum.eu/publication/...

W październiku napisaliśmy z @gbuldioski.bsky.social o sondażu Gallupa. Czy był(a)byś gotowy/a bronić kraju, gdyby został zaatakowany? TAK: 49% Polaków, 23% Niemców, 33% UK. Liderzy centrowych partii politycznych zaczynają rozumieć, że coś z tym muszą zrobić. Krok Tuska w dobrą stronę @wyborcza.pl

What Democrats Can Learn from Tusk's Defence Policy Playbook - COMMENTARY Europe faces a critical choice: defend democracy or leave it to nationalists. As military readiness declines and defence becomes a political tool, pro-democracy leaders must act. Poland’s approach —…

Mass military training isn’t just about combat—it’s about building a society that understands its duty to freedom.

Click to read @gbuldioski.bsky.social and @wojciechprzybylski.bsky.social 's take ⤵️

DOGE’s Victims Could Be Europe’s Gain Vast U.S. human capital is now available. Europe—and the future trans-Atlantic relationship—could benefit.

The current turmoil in U.S. public administration could be an opportunity to build new ties across the Atlantic.

My piece in @foreignpolicy.com with @gbuldioski.bsky.social

foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/19/m...

A good one for my first post on this platform :-). @wojciechprzybylski.bsky.social from @visegradinsight.bsky.social and I elaborated our ideas on how a liberal pro-democracy strategy for defense may look like. I am grateful to @EuropeanLiberalForum for publishing it. liberalforum.eu/publication/...

Orbán’s Illiberal Network Grows with Romanowski’s Hungary Asylum Hungary granting political asylum to Marcin Romanowski marks the first time one EU member has offered such protection to a politician from another. Critics see this as a dangerous precedent that weapo...

🇭🇺 🇵🇱 HU granting political asylum to Romanowski potentially sets a dangerous precedent that weaponises asylum to undermine the rule of law writes Goran Buldioski and Katerina Kolozova.

Click to read their analysis here ⤵️

visegradinsight.eu/orbans-illib...