Institute of International Relations Prague / Ústav mezinárodních vztahů

Náš ředitel Mats Braun se v rozhovoru pro Hospodářské noviny vyjádřil k proměně americké zahraniční politiky, rostoucí roli Číny i tomu, proč se Evropa bez Spojených států zatím stále neobejde.

„V Evropě se nám často může zdát, že se Trump chová poněkud bláznivě. Je to ale složitější. Čína dnes z fungování současného mezinárodního řádu těží ještě více než samotné Spojené státy. Pak může být z jejich pohledu racionální zkusit tento systém trochu rozbít.“

Rozhovor je pro vás odemčen, odkaz na něj najdete v komentáři pod tímto příspěvkem.

🎉 We are very pleased to announce that the Czech Journal of International Relations, published by the IIR, has achieved Q1 status in the Scimago SJR ranking and has joined the ranks of the most prestigious journals in the field of Political Science and International Relations! 🌐

The journal has moved from Q3 to Q1 with an SJR score of 0.622 and is now the highest ranked Czech journal in this field in Czechia and the second best in all of Central and Eastern Europe.

At the same time, we are especially proud that 63 percent of the authors are women. In a field where female representation is often significantly lower, this is both unusual and encouraging.

🔷 This achievement reflects the work of the editorial team: Michal Kolmaš, Jan Daniel, Jan Kovář, Eva Svatonová, as well as the wider academic community, advisory board members, former editors and, importantly, all contributing authors.

We see this as an important signal of openness and diversity in academic publishing, and a result that makes this achievement even more meaningful.

Read more on our website or find the link in the comments!

Are you a researcher from outside the V4 region looking to join an international fellowship programme? The Think Visegrad Fellowship 2026 call is now open!

🔷 Visiting fellowships for non-V4 experts in political science, international relations & economics
🔷 Up to 8 weeks at a Visegrad think tank + €3,400 support (+ travel up to €500)
🔷 Opportunity to develop a policy paper and present your research
🔷 🗓️ Deadline for applications: May 15, 2026

More information 👉 find the details on our website, link in the comments.

Join the team at the Institute of International Relations Prague and become our new Researcher / Senior Researcher.
We are looking for a motivated expert in international relations who is eager to contribute to high-quality basic research, applied and policy research and public debate. 🌍
🔷 You will conduct internationally competitive research, publish in leading academic journals, write policy papers and engage in public, media and expert discussions
🔷 We expect a PhD (or advanced PhD candidate) in International Relations or a related field, a strong academic background, publication record, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, with expertise in one or more areas:

International political economy, trade, and geopolitics
International security and trans-Atlantic relations and/or Eastern Europe
Central Europe and the European Union
The International Relations of the Middle East
The International Relations of Asia and the Indo-Pacific
🔷 We offer a full-time position in Prague, an intellectually stimulating international environment, flexible working hours, 6 weeks of annual leave, and additional financial rewards based on research performance
🔷 Please send your cover letter, CV with publication list, and a sample of your academic work to [email protected] by 11 May 2026
(preferred start date: June 2026, negotiable)
👉 More information can be found in the full job advertisement and on our website (link in the comments).

Může Írán prostřednictvím Hormuzského průlivu skutečně donutit Spojené státy ke změně strategie?

Právě tento klíčový bod světového obchodu se dnes stává jedním z hlavních nástrojů, jak zvyšovat ekonomické i politické náklady konfliktu – a jeho význam tak dalece přesahuje samotný region. Co to znamená pro další vývoj konfliktu, vysvětluje náš expert na region Jan Daniel.

👉 Přečtěte si více na našem webu. Link v komentářích.

K příležitosti vydání publikace Analýzy 2026: Evropa v měnícím se světě proběhl 31. března diskusní večer o klíčových výzvách současné Evropy.
Ředitel Mats Braun otevřel téma proměny vztahů mezi EU a USA. Jan Švec přiblížil rostoucí vliv Číny, Daniel Šitera se věnoval technologické suverenitě a Matúš Halás otázce obnovení vojenské služby.
Diskusí provázela Jolana Humpálová. Děkujeme všem, kteří dorazili 🙌

The Czech Journal of International Relations is pleased to announce a call for papers for a special issue titled Small States in Turbulent Times, which is scheduled for publication in August 2027 under the guest editorship of Diana Panke, Anders Wivel, and Hyeran Jo.
Although it may often appear that superpowers alone define the rules of international engagement in our current geopolitical climate, this issue seeks to explore how smaller nations continue to exercise agency and navigate the complexities of global affairs despite increasing great power rivalry and the erosion of international norms. The CJIR is particularly interested in contributions that analyse how small states adjust their diplomatic strategies, employ sophisticated hedging techniques, or seek shelter with great powers while simultaneously aiming for influence through norm entrepreneurship and minilateralism.

Focus Areas
▪️Small-state statecraft: Changes in security, military, and economic strategies, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe.
▪️Great power relationships: Analyses of small state interactions with major powers in light of the Ukraine War or shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
▪️Conceptualising influence: New theoretical approaches to power and the role of domestic politics in shaping a small state’s global trajectory.
▪️Methodological innovation: Comparative analyses and new ways of studying foreign policy changes in and beyond the European context.

Submission Guidelines
▪️Abstracts: 250–500 words plus a brief bio due by 30 April 2026.
▪️Full Manuscripts: Up to 10,000 words due by 30 October 2026.

For more information about the call, please visit the website in the comments below.

Last week, the IIR hosted an event "Leading or Lagging? The EU’s Economic Playbook in a Disrupted World" 🇪🇺, bringing together experts to discuss the European Union’s role in an increasingly contested global economic order. 🌍

The discussion focused on how the EU can navigate growing geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions, strengthen its resilience, and adapt its economic tools in areas such as trade, taxation, climate policy, and digital transformation.

💠 The event was opened with remarks by Mats Braun and Michal Parízek, who framed the discussion around the EU’s ability to respond to increasing global tensions and the growing importance of economic instruments in international politics.

💠 The keynote speech was delivered by Věra Jourová, who focused on digital sovereignty and the need for the EU to strengthen its independence, resilience, and regulatory capacity in the digital sphere.

💠 Further panels brought insights from leading researchers on key EU economic challenges. Federica Marconi addressed the regulation of cyberspace and tensions between national interests and international rules, Tomáš Boukal discussed the limits of the global minimum tax and concerns of developing countries, Jan Karlas focused on climate policy and the EU’s role in climate finance, and Michal Parízek highlighted the importance of trade and the future of multilateral and bilateral cooperation.

💠 The event was organised in cooperation with the ENSURED project. 🤝 Thank you to all speakers and participants for a stimulating discussion and the moderators, Daniel Šitera and Barbora Chaloupková, for guiding the discussions throughout the event.

We hope you enjoyed the event and we look forward to seeing you again at our future activities!

Are our rights really protected as we grow older? And is the world ready for the realities of ageing societies? Veronika Bílková and Federica Cristani explore whether we need a new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and what it could change in practice.

The policy paper also looks at the role of the Czech Republic in this debate and explains why it matters for all of us. As our society ages, these questions are becoming increasingly relevant for healthcare, social systems and equality. Read the full policy paper on our website, the link is in the comments. 👇