Over December, a Sapience delegation undertook an intensive European mission across Brussels, The Hague, Antwerp, Paris and Switzerland, strengthening international relationships and advancing dialogue around a more multipolar, inclusive and culturally conscious world order.
The mission brought together engagements with European policymakers, human rights organisations, diplomats, public intellectuals, media professionals, academics and members of the international Indian community. Prior to the visit, the delegation worked together remotely for several months to establish a shared strategy and define the objectives of the mission.
In Brussels, the delegation engaged with European policymakers and human rights representatives, including members of the European Parliament, discussing minority rights, advocacy and pathways for bringing underrepresented issues into wider policy discourse. Meetings also explored the evolving humanitarian situation in Syria and opportunities for constructive European engagement.
In The Hague, discussions with Global Human Rights Defence focused on international human rights initiatives, minority protection and avenues for institutional collaboration.
The Antwerp engagements brought Sapience into dialogue with business leaders, community representatives, academics and professionals from the Indian and Jain communities. Conversations centred on Sapience’s vision of multipolarity, ethical leadership, cultural preservation and the role of diaspora communities in shaping a more balanced international order.
The mission subsequently expanded into conversations with European political strategists, independent media, public intellectuals and geopolitical thinkers across Brussels, Paris and Switzerland. These exchanges examined the relationship between geopolitics, public discourse, culture, media and the emerging architecture of global governance.
The delegation also initiated conversations with influential voices across Europe and beyond, opening pathways for future collaboration, intellectual exchange and participation in Sapience programmes.
Advancing Dialogue Across Borders
The mission marked an important step in Sapience’s effort to build a global network of thinkers, institutions and communities committed to dialogue, cultural plurality and a more balanced international system.
Rather than positioning multipolarity solely as a geopolitical proposition, the engagements explored it as a broader framework for cooperation, mutual respect, cultural preservation and inclusive global dialogue. Notable Engagements
The mission included engagements with Members of the European Parliament, human rights organisations, policy advocates, media platforms, business and diaspora leaders, and leading public intellectuals across Europe.
Notable engagements included:
– European Parliament, including Katrin Langensiepen, MEP (Germany), with discussions around minority rights, advocacy and European policy engagement.
– Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) in The Hague, represented by Shradhanand Sital, focusing on international human rights initiatives and minority protection.
– Fair Observer, through Peter Isaacson, exploring the role of independent media and informed public discourse in global affairs.
– World Public Assembly, through Helena Perroud, with discussions around international networks and future institutional collaboration.
– Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, with whom discussions centred on political strategy and advancing a multipolar international order.
– Slobodan Despot, Serbian-Swiss writer and intellectual associated with Antipresse, engaging on geopolitics, media and contemporary European discourse.
– Youssef Hindi, Moroccan writer, historian of religions and geopolitologist, in discussions on ideology, history and geopolitics.
– Charles Onana, Cameroonian public intellectual and advisor to African political leaders, broadening the dialogue towards African perspectives on global affairs.
– Antwerp’s Indian and Jain communities, alongside business and institutional leaders including representatives of ABN AMRO and the State Bank of India, exploring the role of diaspora communities, cultural preservation and ethical leadership.