Report on the EU-VALUES International Conference
Location: Instituto de Estudios Internacionales (IEI), Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile
Dates: December 4th-7th, 2024
The EU-VALUES International Conference brought together an array of esteemed academics, policymakers, and network members to discuss pivotal issues related to promoting democracy and the rule of law from a global perspective. This event was hosted by the Instituto de Estudios Internacionales at the Universidad de Chile, providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration across continents.
Day 1: 4th of December 2024
At 14:00 on 4th December, the General Assembly of the EU-VALUES Network convened in Room Condell. This initial gathering focused on reviewing the network’s progress and setting strategic directions for 2025. The meetings began with an introduction by the Network Coordinator, Jacint Jordana, and a “tour of the table” of all EU-VALUES members, during which participants familiarised themselves with one another and set a collegial tone for the discussions. Following this, the Network Manager, Adam Holesch, presented the network’s activities and outputs to date, highlighting key achievements such as the EU-VALUES website, and the start of the blog, webinar, podcast, and video series. After that, he presented a plan on how to identify potential social media partners across all member institutions to enhance the visibility and outreach of the network.
Subsequently, the introduction of a mid-term report was announced for Month 18 of the project, which should include contributions from various partners and assess progress against the network’s objectives. The discussion moved towards future planning, including the launch of an Expert Survey and the development of a comprehensive textbook to broaden educational impact. Preparations for the next EU-VALUES Conference, set to take place in Istanbul from 30th June to 2nd July, were also outlined, ensuring early coordination and engagement. The meeting concluded with a Q&A session, addressing any outstanding questions and additional business matters raised by participants.
Later in the day, the events of the educational module began with the workshop "Teaching Democracy, Values, and Human Rights", which featured a diverse panel, including Ramin Jahanbegloo (O.P. Jindal), Adam Holesch (IBEI), and Magnus Kilander (University of Pretoria). Participants explored innovative pedagogical approaches and the challenges of fostering democratic values in diverse educational contexts. The session was well-attended by members of the EU-VALUES Network, as well as researchers and students from Chilean universities, fostering a robust exchange of ideas.
The programme continued with a workshop titled "Studying Abroad/EU Research Funding in Social Sciences: Opportunities for Latin America and the Caribbean", led by experts such as Jacint Jordana (IBEI), Cecilia Osorio (University of Chile), Philip de Man (KU Leuven), and Carolina Salgado (PUC-Rio). During this session, some panellists highlighted opportunities for academic mobility within the EU, while others provided an overview of funding access to advance research on EU-Latin America relations and beyond. The day ended with a networking dinner for the participants.
Day 2: 5th December 2024
The second day began with an opening ceremony in the garden of the Instituto de Estudios Internacionales. The inauguration of the conference was delivered by Dorotea López Giral and Jacint Jordana, who set the tone for the day’s discussions. Through Zoom, Stefaan Hermans from the European Commission welcomed the participants to the Jean Monnet networks by presenting the goals of the Commission for this network. Network Coordinator, Jacint Jordana, provided a compelling presentation on the EU-VALUES Network’s role in shaping policy and evaluation strategies. Esther Barbé from IBEI delivered an inspiring inaugural keynote on democratic values in a globalised world.
Panel sessions throughout the day delved into specialised topics, from the nuances of rule of law conflicts to the impacts of democratic backsliding.
Panel 1 on IR and Democratic Values began with Cristina Teleki from Maastricht University, who presented her paper titled “De-Oligarchisation Laws in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine.” Following Teleki’s presentation, Agnieszka Cianciara from the Polish Academy of Sciences shared her insights on “Countering FIMI without Compromising Liberal Democratic Values? The Case of France.” Next, Sascha Hannig Nuñez of Hitotsubashi University (joining online) presented “The European Foreign Information Manipulation and Influence (FIMI) Framework and its Applicability to the Study of State-Sponsored Disinformation in Latin America.” Concluding the panel, Álvaro Cristian Pereira Arancibia, a former Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals student, presented “The Green Angle: Emerging Threats to Democratic Values.”
Panel 2 on Elections, Polarisation, and the Promotion of Democracy began with Tushti Chopra from NALSAR, who presented her paper titled “Critical Examination of Election Laws Promoting or Discouraging Democracy: A Study of Best and Worst Practices.” This was followed by Carolina Segovia from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile, who shared her research on “Affective Polarisation, Support for Democracy, and Democratic Values: A Cross- and Within-Country Analysis.” Next, Miguel Ángel López V. from the Instituto de Estudios Internacionales de la Universidad de Chile delivered a presentation on “Voto estratégico en Chile.” Constanza Vásquez Riveros from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile continued the discussion with “El rol de la cancillería como ‘colegislador’ en la formulación de políticas públicas.” Finally, Régis Dandoy from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito concluded the session with “EU Missions of Election Observation and Their Impact on Democracy in Latin America.”
Panel 3 on Democracy and Gender opened with Melisa Deciancio from FLACSO, who presented her paper titled “International Politics and the Gender Agenda in Argentina (2019–2024).” Following this, Umut Aydin from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile discussed “Latin American Contestations of Gender and LGBTQI+ Rights Agenda.” The next presentation came from Tutku Ayhan of IBEI, who shared insights on “Feminist Foreign Policy in the European Union: Convergences and Divergences vis-à-vis EU Gender Policies.” Finally, JeongHun Han from Seoul National University concluded the panel with “Ideological and Gender Difference in Accommodating Foreign Culture: An Empirical Analysis of ‘Hallyu.’”
Panel 4 on Migration and Human Rights started with Josefina Elena Tapia Cárcamo from the Universidad de Chile, who presented her work on “Crisis de migrantes y refugiados en Chile 2018–2022: Las motivaciones de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y su rol institucional.” Stephen Phillips from Åbo Akademi University followed with his presentation on “Securitized Responses to Unwanted Migration and the Undermining of Democratic Values.” Next, Chiu Kuan-Yu from Hitotsubashi University discussed “Reconciling the Responsibility to Protect and Instant Customary International Law: Navigating the Challenges of Humanitarian Intervention in the 21st Century.” The session concluded with Dionysia Kang from Åbo Akademi University presenting “Subjected to Integration: Punishment and Exclusion of Rights in the ‘World’s Happiest Country.’”
Panel 5 on International Organizations, New Right, and Democracy opened with Ivana Damjanovic from the Australian National University, who presented her paper titled “A Multilateral Investment Court: Towards the Rule of EU Law?” This was followed by Ondrej Blažo from Comenius University Bratislava, who shared his research on “Judicial Review of Enforcement of the Values of the European Union.” João Gabriel Danon Tavares from Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro continued with “Democracy in Danger: Is the Popularity of the New Right a Threat to Democracy in Europe and Latin America?” The panel concluded with Giuliano Vosa from Università di Catania, who presented “The Irreducible Duality of the Rule of Law as the Forerunner of the EU Values.”
Panel 6 on Democracy and Higher Education began with Fabíola Wüst Zibetti and Camila Javiera Hernández Sánchez from the Universidad de Chile, who jointly presented “No Proliferación en el Ámbito Universitario: El Control de Conocimientos y Tecnologías de Uso Dual Ante los Valores Democráticos en la Unión Europea.” They were followed by Sukmawani Bela Pertiwi and Miranda P. Tahalele from BINUS University, who shared their study titled “Students’ Perception on Indonesia’s Current State of Democracy.”
Panel 7 on Democracy and the Politics of Latin America opened with Veronica Hurtado from the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, who presented her paper titled “The Impact of Organized Crime on Political Participation: A Study of Extortion and Citizen Engagement in Chile.” Next, Agustina Garino from FLACSO Argentina shared her insights on “El Buen Vivir en la Política Global: Una Mirada Desde la Experiencia Boliviana (2006–2019).” Finally, Luis Garrido-Vergara and Marcos González Hernando from the Universidad de Chile delivered a joint presentation on “The Role of Expertise for the Cohesion of Networks: The Case of the Chilean Constitutional Convention (2021–2022).”
The afternoon book presentation, "National Human Rights Institutions in Europe and Latin America," was a highlight, bringing together scholars and practitioners to discuss a vital aspect of human rights governance. The book showcases critical research by Manuel Nuñez Poblete (Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso), and Jan Wouters (KU Leuven), and was discussed by Beatriz Corbo (member of the National Institute of Human Rights of Chile, INDH).
The day concluded with a roundtable discussion on "Democratic Values Backsliding in the Global World," chaired by Adam Holesch from IBEI. Esteemed panelists, including Cristina Escudero (Universidad de Chile), Jan Wouters (KU Leuven) and Radosław Markowski from (SWPS University) debated the erosion of democratic norms and proposed actionable strategies to counteract this trend.
Across all days of the conference, the EU-VALUES initiative hosted a series of internal meetings aimed at coordinating its ongoing activities and fostering collaboration among its members. These meetings offered participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, review progress, and set priorities for the future in an informal yet focused setting.
On Thursday, December 5, the day began with the Editorial Board meeting, held over breakfast from 09:30 to 10:00. This meeting brought together board members to discuss upcoming publications, outline editorial strategies, and reflect on key thematic priorities for future contributions to the project. The relaxed morning setting encouraged a productive yet collegial exchange of ideas.
Later in the day, from 13:00 to 14:00, the Gender Equality Board convened over lunch. This session focused on reviewing ongoing initiatives related to promoting gender equality within the project and the broader academic and policy frameworks it engages with. Participants shared updates, identified challenges, and explored innovative approaches to ensuring that gender considerations remain central to EU-VALUES’ mission. The informal lunchtime atmosphere facilitated open dialogue and constructive brainstorming.
Day 3: 6th of December 2024
The final day of the conference emphasised strategic planning and the integration of key themes discussed throughout the event. The morning’s panels explored topics such as gender policy, foreign policy, and regional approaches to democracy promotion.
Panel 8 on EU-LA Relations opened with Christian Neubacher from the University of Cambridge, who presented his paper titled “Multilateral Cooperation Between the European Union and Latin America.” Neubacher’s work highlighted the historical and contemporary dynamics shaping EU-LA relations. Following this, Ramni Hangirgekar and Dr. Shirish Kulkarni from Symbiosis Law School discussed “Advancing Democratic Values Through Labor Rights: ILO’s Role in Bridging India and EU-Latin America Cooperation.” Their presentation examined the International Labour Organization's efforts to promote democratic values through labor reforms in the global context. Next, Santiago Ardisson from Universidad Austral shared insights on “EU-LAC Bi-Regional Association as a Global Champion on Democracy and Rule of Law.” The session concluded with Benedetta Arrighini from Université Libre de Bruxelles, who presented “The OAS’ Role in Defining the Rule of Law: Past, Present, and Future,” offering a reflection on the Organization of American States’ influence in global governance.
Panel 9 started with Dominik Rehbaum from the European University Institute, who presented “Rethinking Democracy Promotion in the Pluriverse.” He was followed by Dr. Abhishek Sharma Padmanabhan from JAIN University, who explored “An Exploration of the Impact of AI on Democratic Principles and Governance: A Policy Perspective.” Anthony Charles de Novaes da Silva from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie discussed “Inteligencia Artificial y Democracia: Caminos para Coexistencia.” Next, Dr. K. V. K. Santhy from NALSAR University of Law revisited “The Impact of AI on Democratic Principles,” building on earlier policy discussions. Finally, Vaibhav Gaur from Mansarovar Global University concluded the session with his work on “The Election Year 2024: Navigating Democracy Alongside AI.”
Panel 10 opened with Dr. Showkat Ahmad Wani from Alliance University, who presented “Rising Threats to Constitutionalism and Rule of Law in India: A Critical Study.” This was followed by Muhammad Hassan from Government College University, who shared his analysis of “Promotion of Democracy and Rule of Law: Revisiting the Lawyers’ Movement in Pakistan.” Next, Supruet Thavornyutikarn from Thammasat University discussed “Over-Criminalisation by Regulators Creates Distrust and Hinders Democracy.” Thomas Aubineau from Universidad Sorbona Nueva contributed with his work, “De Defectuosas a Funcionales: Cómo las Democracias Mejoradas Pueden Enfrentar las Crisis Globales / From Flawed to Functional: How Improved Democracies Can Address Global Crises.” Concluding the session, Rizki Damayanti from Paramadina University presented “Promoting Democracy and the Rule of Law: Implications of the 2024 European Parliament Election and the Rise of Right-Wing Parties for ASEAN’s Multiculturalism, Muslim Migration, and International Relations.”
Panel 11 began with Maximiliano Andreas Schenke Benavides from the Universidad de Chile, who presented his paper titled “Guerra de Transición: Democracia y Tecnología en el Conflicto Ruso-Ucraniano.” Next, Constanza Valentina Paredes Contreras from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile explored “Security Crises as Catalysts for the Expansion of State Power: Analyzing Democratic Erosion in Latin America.” Dr. Pramod Kumar Jawaharlal from Jawaharlal Nehru University presented his work on “Geopolitics and Energy: EU-Latin America Ties in the Shadow of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis.” Finally, Osnarci Rafael Ramos Borges from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso concluded with “Globalización y Fragmentación: ¿Amigos o Enemigos de la Democracia? Reconstruyendo Puentes para un Futuro Común.” This session was chaired by Adam Holesch (IBEI) and closed with a discussion on the interplay between global security challenges and the health of democratic institutions.
A roundtable chaired by Ricardo Gamboa featured high-profile speakers from politics and diplomacy to discuss the role of foreign policy in promoting democratic values on a global scale. The session featured Juan Ignacio Latorre, a Senator and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who provided insights into the legislative perspective on advancing democratic principles through international relations. Joining him was Mariano Fernández, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Drawing from his extensive diplomatic experience, Fernández was expected to contribute reflections on how Chile and other nations have historically used foreign policy as a tool to uphold and spread democratic ideals.
An afternoon session on gender policy, chaired by Jacint Jordana, brought together academics from across the globe. The session featured Lina Meruane from New York University, who provided critical perspectives on the cultural and political dimensions of gender policy, drawing from her academic and literary expertise. Andrés Dockendorff from the Instituto de Estudios Internacionales offered insights into the policy implications of gender equality in the Chilean parliament. Finally, Miranda Tahelele from BINUS University contributed by examining gender policy in the context of Indonesia and Asia more broadly. Her expertise likely addressed how democratic values can be reconciled with the diverse cultural and political realities of the region, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in achieving gender parity.
The conference concluded with a closing session and a reception in the garden of the Instituto de Estudios Internacionales. Dorotea López Giral and Jacint Jordana delivered final remarks, reflecting on the progress made and the ambitious goals ahead for the EU-VALUES Network.
Day 4: 7th of December 2024
As the culminating activity of the EU-VALUES conference, participants were invited to join a guided tour of the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos in Santiago de Chile. This social event provided a reflective and meaningful conclusion to the week’s discussions on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
The museum, dedicated to preserving the memory of human rights violations committed during Chile’s military dictatorship (1973–1990), offered a powerful space to explore the importance of collective memory in upholding democratic values. Led by knowledgeable guides, the tour took participants through exhibits showcasing personal testimonies, archival material, and interactive installations that shed light on the struggle for justice and human dignity.
This event encouraged attendees to connect the themes of the conference with Chile’s own history and ongoing efforts to promote human rights and democracy. The shared experience fostered a sense of solidarity and underscored the global relevance of the conference’s mission. Participants left with a deeper appreciation for the resilience of democratic values and the importance of preserving them in the face of challenges.
