The Ratiu Forum

18/08/2026

O vizită și un parteneriat care ne onoreazǎ și ne susține în misiunea de promovare și apărare a democrației!

16/08/2026

🗓️ Ratiu Dialogues on Democracy 2026 - only 3 weeks left until our annual conference!

This year's main theme, European Security in Challenging Times, will be explored through a packed agenda covering the future of European security, prospects for peace in Ukraine and Russia's future, European cooperation on the Eastern flank, how AI and technology are changing democracy and warfare, democracy and delivery in an age of populism, the changing face of warfare, and upgrading European defense capabilities.

Academics, policymakers, civil society leaders, and media representatives from across the region will engage in discussions and exchanges on these pressing contemporary issues.

14/08/2026

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it", said George Santayana (1863–1952).

📰 Here's a reminder of that, recently published by Alison Mutler for the Ratiu Report:
https://ratiureport.substack.com/p/in-the-transylvanian-town-of-turda

A dispatch by Ratiu mentor Alison Mutler, from the hometown of the Ratiu Forum

04/08/2026

Happy birthday to our Pamela Ratiu! 💐

A talented leader and an inspiring woman, your vision and determination have contributed to so many successful projects that helped build a better future — for Transylvania and beyond.

Your work has supported the efforts of the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation, shaped the Ratiu Forum platform and all its programmes, and helped grow a sustainable ecosystem in Turda with lasting community impact through the projects of the Ratiu Democracy Centre.

Thank you for the lasting difference you make every day. We wish you joy, fulfilment, and as much inspiration as you so generously share with those around you.

31/07/2026

An investigative article by David Manolache, a young reporter and mentee in the Ratiu Journalism Mentorship Programme 2026, reveals the reality faced by Asian contract workers in Romania. The piece documents the fraud and exploitation that have become typical in this segment of international employment.

🔗 Read full English version of the article here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-208613141

Originally published by Centrul de Investigații Media, the article offers a sobering look behind the scenes of a system that promises opportunity but, for many, delivers something far different.

A compelling and important read for anyone interested in labour rights, migration, and investigative journalism.

A two-year journey ended in exploitation, unpaid wages and legal limbo — revealing the cracks in Romania's foreign labour recruitment system

27/07/2026

📘 Din seria volumelor semnate de Ion Rațiu, disponibile și pe https://ratiu.org/publications/

21/07/2026

"Everyone can be a reporter-publisher now, via social media, with a potential audience of millions. So where does that leave professional reporters and actual publishers?"

That was the question addressed in this week’s session of the Ratiu Dialogues on Journalism, with veteran foreign correspondent and senior editor Alec Russell, international editor of the Financial Times and his host, a Ratiu Forum mentor Dan Perry, former Associated Press chief editor for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Follow the full conversation inside the Ratiu Report: https://substack.com/home/post/p-207287461

18/07/2026

Watch the most recent interview with Professor Alexander Evans of the London School of Economics on disinformation and manipulation — issues of profound importance in contemporary debates surrounding the defence of democratic and civic rights in Europe and across the world.

Professor Evans offers an incisive analysis, drawing on his extensive experience in diplomacy, public policy, and the study of information integrity.

🔗Full interview - https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/externe/pasaport-diplomatic-europa-sub-asaltul-razboiului-hibrid-de-ce-dezinformarea-este-mai-greu-de-descurajat-decat-un-atac-armat-3866155

Don’t miss the opportunity to see Professor Evans speak live at the RATIU DIALOGUES ON DEMOCRACY 2026 conference, taking place from 4–6 September in Turda. The central theme of this year's event is European Security in Challenging Times — a timely and essential conversation for all who value informed, open, and accountable governance.

More details about the conference agenda and speakers will follow soon - https://ratiuforum.com/ratiu-dialogues-2026/

14/07/2026

New on the Ratiu Report: originally published on New Eastern Europe, this article by Ratiu Forum Journalism Programme mentee Max Mihailovici examines how Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine is affecting the Transnistria region.

A compelling read on the ripple effects of conflict in our neighbourhood 🔗 https://substack.com//note/c-293588467

RATIU MENTEE MAX MIHAILOVICI WRITES: Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine is changing the dynamics affecting nearby Transnistria https://ratiureport.substack.com/p/transnistria-how-the-ukraine-war?r=5iuzyv&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web