Democratic changes in the society are impossible without protection of human rights, good education, and free and professional media. This was the main conclusion from the forum “In Search of Lost Universalism”, in which a special guest-speaker was Frank-Walter Steinmeier – Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. The event took place on 28 and 29 October in Berlin. It was organized by the Moscow School of Political Studies and the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, and supported by Robert Bosch Stiftung.

In two days, over 200 representatives of the Schools of Political Studies from 21 countries, ambassadors, university professors, sociologists and analysts discussed the crisis of values and European institution in the contemporary world. Four discussion panels were dedicated to changes in the contemporary world, history lessons, media and propaganda, and democracy and civic education. Inevitable topics in the debates were Russia and the policy of the president Vladimir Putin at national and international level.

The Executive Director of the Bulgarian School of Politics “Dimitry Panitza” – Irina Alexieva and two School’s alumni – Petar Karaboev and Hristo Panchugov were among the participants in the forum.