For the media

The Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki will host the international Aleksanteri Conference on 22–24 October 2025. This year’s conference, under the theme “Extremisms: Ambiguities, Ideologies, Agency”, explores the challenge of extremism to democracies and other political systems not only in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Russia, but also on a global scale.

The conference will bring together researchers to discuss and present the latest research on countering extremism, the ways in which authoritarian societies label minorities as extremists, far-right extremism, information warfare, and academic freedom. You can explore the diverse conference programme .

Keynote lectures will address, among other topics, the centrality of gender in illiberal politics, Russian academia, and agency in an age of polarization. The latter theme will be discussed at Think Corner on Thursday, 23 October, from 13:30 to 14:45 by , a Ukrainian historian and writer, known for her book  (2022).

Media representatives are warmly welcome to follow the conference. Accreditation is open until 20 October. For media accreditation, please contact and let us know the media outlet you represent, the names of any colleagues who may join you, and the days you plan to attend.

Chair of the Conference Committee Katalin Miklóssy

For keynote speaker interview requests, please contact: