Latest Political Discussion Featuring Gladden Pappin

In a thought-provoking conversation recorded on July 17th, 2025, Mark and Gladden Pappin discussed the current state of the liberal international order and the recent shift in EU-US relations.

Gladden Pappin, who is not only the president of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs but also a co-founder and deputy editor of American Affairs Journal and the online magazine Post-Liberal Order, was at the forefront of this discussion.

The conversation highlighted the need for greater understanding of new conservative perspectives, particularly in Europe. It was clear that the old liberal international order established after 1945 is being replaced by a more pluralistic and decentralized global structure as power diffuses beyond the West, especially towards the Indo-Pacific region. This shift diminishes Western dominance and leads to the formation of new alliances.

These alliances are not traditional in nature, instead, they are flexible thematic coalitions and cross-regional friendship groups within institutions like the UN that include states from both the Global South and North. They create spaces for the exchange of ideas and cooperation on issues like climate change and economic reforms.

This emerging political sensibility, shaped by challenges to the liberal consensus and the rise of illiberal powers such as China and Russia, poses significant challenges to European politics as traditionally known. It threatens the stability of liberal democracy and forces adaptation to a multipolar and ideologically diverse world.

The text suggests that these emerging alliances are creating a space for different people to exchange ideas. Gladden Pappin's intellectual journey illustrates the transnational nature of contemporary political thought.

Post-liberalism, presented as a direct response to the failures of liberalism, is one of the ideologies shaping this new political landscape. However, what is emerging to replace the old liberal international order is not specified in the text.

The conversation between Mark and Gladden Pappin underscores the importance of open dialogue and understanding in navigating the complexities of the contemporary global political landscape.