The Mediterranean region exemplifies the broader global crisis of democracy, and the consolidation of authoritarianism particularly since the Arab uprisings . The region鈥檚 trajectory is also marked by a global shift from the democratization efforts of the 2000s and the Arab uprisings toward a pragmatic transactionalism that prioritizes stability over the risks of authoritarian consolidation, a trend central to the congress鈥檚 focus on uncertain democracies. Global and regional powers鈥擱ussia, China, Israel, Iran, and Gulf states鈥攁lso compete for influence, often sidelining the EU and US, whose engagement remains inconsistent despite initiatives like the Pact for the Mediterranean.
This track interrogates how political actors and non-state actors 鈥攈ybrid actors, diasporas, private sector, and transnational networks鈥攔eshape governance and conflict resolution, challenging traditional state-centric models. It examines how institutions, norms, and historical legacies interact with these actors to help us to rethink democratic resilience in times of world order interregnum. Next to analyzing the Mediterranean鈥檚 geopolitical dynamics, the track contributes to the broader debate on whether democracy can adapt its institutions and practices to meet 21st-century challenge; from the rise of digital authoritarianism to the erosion of multilateralism.
