On June 23–24, the Valdai Discussion Club, in partnership with Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (IKBFU), held an expert dialogue in Kaliningrad titled “From Global ‘Fighting with No Rules’ to a Dialogue of Civilisations.” The event was hosted at IKBFU and brought together prominent Russian and international scholars. The meeting was opened by Alexey Besprozvannykh, Governor of the Kaliningrad Region; Maxim Demin, Rector of IKBFU; and Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club.
The first session focused on international conflicts, their resolution, and the fundamental problem of war itself. Participants included Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director; Biljana Vankovska, President of the Synergia Orbi Institute for Global Analysis in Skopje; Andrey Klemeshev, President of IKBFU; and Geoffrey Roberts, Emeritus Professor of History at University College Cork. The central thesis that emerged was that conflicting states remain rational actors and should not be portrayed as “madmen.” They fight for their own interests, and it is precisely this clash of interests—both today and in the past—that lies at the root of war. Can civilisational differences be considered a cause of war? More likely no than yes. Civilisation determines not why people fight, but how they fight. The balance of power remains the most important factor in shaping world order, especially given that a “world empire” is simply unattainable today. A separate discussion was sparked by the question of international law’s potential in resolving conflicts. On the one hand, the view that international law has limited capacity to prevent wars has become canonical. On the other hand, it is quite compatible with anarchic international relations. There are numerous areas of international life regulated by law, and although it cannot prevent war, international law remains relevant and functional. Can nuclear weapons prevent wars or determine a victor? That remains an open question. Nuclear weapons are undoubtedly a powerful deterrent; however, their application to tactical issues is extremely risky and does not guarantee results.
The second session shifted focus to civilisations, with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of the civilisation-state. Speakers included HSE Professor Alexander Filippov; Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation (Delhi); HSE Research Fellow Alexander Girinsky; Misa Djurkovic, Leading Research Fellow at the Institute of European Studies in Belgrade; and Professor John Gong of the University of International Business and Economics (China). The session was moderated by Lydia Kulik, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The discussion opened with the concept of civilisation itself, which remains a subject of considerable debate. In its broadest sense, civilisation is a way of identifying societies—it answers the question “how,” not “what.” A system of values and stability are two defining characteristics. Many civilisations have imperial experience, and today a new type is emerging: technological civilisations and the technological empires they generate, each with their own technological spheres. However, the familiar notion of a clash of civilisations requires fundamental rethinking—as does the idea that the path to civilisation is a unified process with the so-called “West” as its benchmark. Is Russia a civilisation? This, too, remains debated. While the country possesses its own civilisational identity, it has absorbed many elements from other civilisations.
The third session addressed security architecture in Eurasia. Several powerful civilisational groups are concentrated in this region, along with the fastest-growing centres of power. The effectiveness of the security architecture in Eurasia will have a significant impact on international security as a whole. Speakers included Alexander Trofimov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Milana Živanović, Research Fellow at the Institute of Contemporary History of Serbia; Vadim Voinikov, Professor at IKBFU; and Boris Mezhuev, Associate Professor at Moscow State University. The experts examined the fundamental principles of the Eurasian security architecture, their legal dimensions, regional perceptions of the architecture, specific steps and possible future directions for the initiative, and its intersections with projects proposed by other countries.
Andrey Bystritskiy and Fyodor Lukyanov spoke at the special session “Contemporary Media and the Dialogue of Civilisations.” Raphaëlle Auclert, lecturer at the Catholic Institute of Vendée and researcher at the ICES Research Centre (France), moderated the session. The discussion explored the current state of the global media space, the impact of new technologies, the possibility of objective information amidst a flood of distortions, and whether AI helps us uncover the truth or obscures it further. Participants also considered how to address the rapid fragmentation of audiences and whether a dialogue between civilisations is possible under such conditions.
The dialogue concluded with an open discussion titled “The Future of the Baltic Region: Powder Keg or Model of Peaceful Coexistence?” Moderated by Ivan Timofeev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club, the session featured both Russian and international participants, with special contributions from international relations scholars at IKBFU. The discussion naturally touched on key security challenges and scenarios for a direct military confrontation between Russia and NATO. An equally important issue was maintaining stability in the face of sanctions and a transport blockade. Nevertheless, the discussion ended on a positive note: the experience of the Kaliningrad Region demonstrates the successful implementation of large-scale state projects, which are becoming centres of modernisation and development for the economy, infrastructure, and human capital.
