Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
As the liberal world order weakens and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine persists, Europe must shift from soft to hard power to protect its democracies. This requires bolstering military strength and public resolve amid rising threats, with mainstream parties adapting their strategies. Public opinion polls expose a harsh truth: only one in three Europeans is willing to fight for their country, with youth showing the greatest reluctance. Pro-democratic parties must respond decisively.
Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) talks to Goran Buldioski, co-author of ELF’s Policy Paper ‘From Soft to Hard Power – Several strategies for European liberals to prepare to defend their country and the continent’.
This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.
As the liberal world order weakens and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine persists, Europe must shift from soft to hard power to protect its democracies. This requires bolstering military strength and public resolve amid rising threats, with mainstream parties adapting their strategies. Public opinion polls expose a harsh truth: only one in three Europeans is willing to fight for their country, with youth showing the greatest reluctance. Pro-democratic parties must respond decisively.
Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) talks to Goran Buldioski, co-author of ELF’s Policy Paper ‘From Soft to Hard Power – Several strategies for European liberals to prepare to defend their country and the continent’.
This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.
