Call for Policy Papers on Hybrid Threats to Democratic Processes in the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood

For the colloquium, we seek the involvement of mid-career professionals from think tanks in Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries and EU member states who are engaged in research about the Eastern Neighborhood of the EU. We invite submissions of concise and relevant policy papers addressing the theme of how hybrid threats impact democratic processes – particularly elections – in the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood.

Submissions should be oriented toward actionable policy recommendations. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Emerging tactics and disruptions in elections across the Eastern Neighborhood
• Authoritarian playbooks and their impact on democratic processes
• Tools and techniques used by Russian-backed actors to interfere in elections
• The future of elections in Ukraine: risks, models, and scenarios
• Building institutional resilience to protect electoral integrity
• Cybersecurity and the protection of electoral infrastructure
• Role of illicit financial flows in influencing election outcomes
• Manipulation of electoral procedures

Please note: While disinformation is a related topic, this call will not prioritize submissions focused exclusively on disinformation campaigns.

We plan to invite four to six individuals to prepare short papers of approximately four to six pages and participate in the colloquium in Chisinau (the authors will be invited to speak there). Selected participants will receive mentorship from think tank experts to enhance the quality of their papers. Selected think tank participants will also receive an honorarium of 500 euros and have all expenses covered for attending the colloquium.

Application Process:

1. Please submit your CV and a brief description of your paper outlining the central question you intend to analyze(approximately 200 words) by August 24 to Ricarda Nierhaus ([email protected]).
2. Selected participants will be notified in the first week of September.
3. The deadline for the submission of the first draft is September 28.
4. After the colloquium, final papers will be consolidated into a single publication that will be published on the DGAP website.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. You are affiliated with or working at a think tank based in one of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries or EU countries specializing in EU Eastern Neighborhood affairs, foreign policy, EU integration, or domestic politics within one or more EaP countries.
2. You have a minimum of three years of professional experience but do not hold a managerial position within your think tank.
3. You have received a recommendation from your think tank that endorses your participation in the colloquium.
4. While there is no specific age restriction, we primarily seek to engage think tank professionals at a mid-career stage.

The call for policy papers and the colloquium are organized within the framework of DGAP’s Think Tank Network on the Eastern Partnershipthat is supported by the European Commission.

For any questions, please contact Anastasia Pociumban ([email protected]).