EXPERTISE
EU, NATO, international relations, security
LANGUAGES
French, German, Spanish, Russian
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Werbowski is a Vienna-based reporter, heritage activist and political campaign organizer who specializes in international geopolitical issues. He graduated from the University of Leeds, U.K., and wrote his MA dissertation in post-communist studies on the topic of E.U. enlargement to the nations of “new” central Europe. He did his BA studies at the faculty of Political Science and Law (University of Nantes, France) and later spent a year as an “etudiant libre” attending classes at the Institut d’ Etudes Politiques de Paris. In 1992, he took summer courses in American foreign policy and advanced journalism at Harvard University. In 1993, he ran for parliament in the Canadian federal elections. He is a Salzburg Global Seminar fellow from 1996 and was awarded a Wolfson college Cambridge media fellowship in 2004. From 1994 until 2000 he resided in Prague as a reporter for the local press. From 2000 until 2003 he worked in Mexico city as a correspondent for the Czech daily Lidove Noviny while collaborating with the Mexican media.
In 2005, he lectured in Prague’s Anglo American college on corporate ethics and media coverage. As a reporter he covered and commented on issues related to E.U. and NATO enlargement for the prominent Czech daily Lidove Noviny and the Prague Post. He has written news and commentary for newspapers such the Mexican daily Excelsior and Tiempos del Mundo in Mexico City. For his environmental coverage of the Chalillo dam controversy in Belize he was awarded an honorable mention for best reporting in 2003 by the Mexican journalists’ club.
Mr. Werbowski’s articles have been translated from English into Spanish and French in magazines, newspapers and websites world wide. Most recently he was business editor at the English daily The News in Mexico city. He is currently working on and researching a book on former U.S. foreign policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter (1977-81) Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski. He has worked with several NGOs and international organizations over the years (most recently assistant to an E.U.-member state OSCE delegation in Vienna).
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Lukashenko Will Not Abandon Russia. Washington Is Making a Mistake
The current US administration’s attempts to gain leverage over Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko are little more than a waste of time and resources. In practice, they only strengthen both the regime in Minsk and its Russian patron. Just as the idea of a “reverse Kissinger”—driving a wedge between Moscow and Beijing—has virtually no chance of success, so too does any strategy aimed at loosening the ties between Belarus and Russia.
Before and After Georgescu. The 2024-25 Romanian Presidential Elections from a 2026 perspective
“I started to refer to the past months as there has been a ‘Before Georgescu’, and an ‘After Georgescu’ time, which we are living now” – a Member of the Parliament
Diverging Paths: Why the V4 Competitiveness Model Is Diverging
The Visegrád Four entered the European Union in 2004 with broadly comparable economic strategies. They attracted foreign capital and offered a skilled, cost-competitive workforce. Yet each country adapted its model to its own. Producing distinct approaches for example to managing flagship firms, downturns, and emerging industries. Two decades later, the outcomes are diverging measurably, with Poland pulling ahead while its neighbours face a slowdown that may define their economic trajectories for years to come.
Between Political Alliance and Institutional Constraint: Serbia and Croatia in Hungary’s Electoral Context
Hungary’s elections are drawing attention across Europe, yet their significance is particularly pronounced for neighbouring states that are closely intertwined with Budapest within a network of regional political and economic interdependencies. For these countries, the stakes extend beyond the electoral outcome itself, encompassing the future direction of cooperation and the broader configuration of regional relations.
The War in Ukraine: Russia’s Spring False Start
Certain aspects of Russia’s war against Ukraine are predictable. One of them is the launch of new offensive operations in the spring. This is timed early enough for Vladimir Putin to be able to present some form of military success on Red Square on 9 May. This year, however, the situation does not appear promising for the Kremlin – at least for now. That said, this is not yet the beginning of a full-scale spring–summer offensive.
Crossroad between East and West. A retrospective analysis of the 2024/25 Moldavian situation
“The presidential elections and the referendum on the 20th of October will be the most important events after the declaration of independence – they will mark the Moldavians’ destiny for the next decades.” – The Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania, commenting on the 2024 Moldovan Referendum
Serbia under Pressure in the Energy Market: The State as a Crisis Buffer
Rising tensions in the Middle East and sharp increases in oil prices—exceeding $100 per barrel in recent weeks—have quickly translated into Serbia’s domestic policy response. The reaction of the authorities in Belgrade shows that in times of global instability, the state once again steps in as the primary instrument for stabilising both the economy and social conditions.
Western Balkans and the Escalation of Tensions in the Middle East
The escalation of tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran has quickly found political resonance in the Western Balkans. Reactions from governments across the region demonstrate how closely the region remains connected to broader geopolitical rivalries.
The War in the Persian Gulf: More Losses Than Gains for Russia
The scale of the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran caught Moscow off guard. The likelihood of major geopolitical shifts in the Persian Gulf has rarely appeared as high as it does today. While the Kremlin may reap limited short-term benefits from the escalation, the overall strategic balance is likely to be unfavorable for Russia.
The Phenomenon of the Forgotten State: Poland’s Distinct Position Within the Developed World
It has been more than 75 years since the Korean Peninsula was separated. For the last decades, the wish for normalizing the inter-Korean relations and the possibility of reunification have crossed the mind of some South Korean leaders. In the early 2000s, upon the incentive of normalizing their relations with North Korea, South Korea took inspiration from the German Ostpolitik in the development of the Sunshine Policy .
Warsaw Institute
