Karin Kneissl official

31 July 2026 17:54

A printed version of "Requiem for Europe" in German is available for order on the website of St Petersburg University Press. Please find the link below:
https://publishing.spbu.ru/catalog/novinki/requiem-f-r-europa/

A digital version is available here:
https://www.litres.ru/book/karin-knaysl/rekviem-po-evrope-na-nemeckom-74053997/

Unfortunately, no payment by direct bank transfer is currently possible between Russia and Europe, so you should find an opportunity to pay via a bank card of a non-European country, for example one issued in Kazakhstan or Armenia.

Karin Kneissl official

30 July 2026 09:56

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Low-Gas-Storage-and-Diesel-Shortages-Threaten-Europes-Winter-Supply.html

In our podcast Flavio Von Witzleben and I discussed the probable impact of the NATO - Ukraine joint attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Five weeks ago I said: there is no reason for "Schadenfreude". It will affect the global market, since oil is globally traded.

By the way, the terms Schadenfreude just like Blitzkrieg are used in German in other languages. There are profound reasons for that. Schadenfreude is something deeply connected to the German language. The French created Rabat Joie, but the English employ the original German term.

#oil #diesel #Russia

Karin Kneissl official

30 July 2026 09:29

☦️ Aujourd’hui, le 28 juillet, on célèbre la Journée du Baptême de la Russie !

🗓 C’est en ce jour de l’an 988 que le grand-prince Vladimir, souverain de la Rus’, accompagné de sa suite, reçut le baptême dans la ville de Korsoun (Chersonèse), en Crimée.

Bien que l’année 988 soit considérée comme la date officielle de l’adoption du christianisme comme religion d’État dans la Rus’, les premières étapes de sa christianisation avaient été engagées bien auparavant. Des cas isolés de conversion au christianisme sont attestés dès les années 860 et, en 957, la princesse Olga, régente de la Rus’, grand-mère du prince Vladimir, reçut le baptême à Constantinople.

🎙 Maria Zakharova, porte-parole du Ministère russe des Affaires :

« Plusieurs philosophes russes et étrangers considèrent le choix du prince Vladimir comme un véritable choix de civilisation, le qualifiant de « tournant de la barbarie païenne vers l'Europe ».

C'est précisément pour cette raison qu'il est particulièrement triste d’observer ceux qui, de nos jours, dans le Vieux Continent, détruisent littéralement la religion chrétienne⁦.

La situation en Ukraine constitue le point culminant de ce que l’Occident fait subir à sa propre civilisation. »

(Extrait du point de presse de la porte-parole du Ministère russe des Affaires étrangères du 27 juillet 2026.)

📍 L’adoption du christianisme a marqué un tournant décisif non seulement dans la vie religieuse, mais aussi dans la vie politique de la Russie ancienne, en favorisant l’établissement de liens étroits avec les pays chrétiens.

#BaptêmeDeLaRussie

Karin Kneissl official

27 July 2026 18:11

Good evening from the village

Time flies and I didn't find the time to post the recent news. One reason for that is the ongoing construction site, but there is progress....I hope that I can soon live more routine and less improvisation.

On July 18th we did our first G.O.R.K.I. seminar in Kasimov. The topic was a rural one: the village feeds the city.
And Ryazan Oblast is an ideal example to discuss and improve the role of local production and local marketing. Kasimov by the way is famous for it's successful chocolate products.

My thanks go to the Administration of Kasimov district, notably to Ivan Arkadevich Bahilov and his colleagues, to the governor's office in Ryazan, deputy minister for agriculture and to my colleagues from Ryazan university and SPbU. Vice Rector Viktor Titov who travelled just for the day by train was as always the perfect rapporteur.
It was our pilot project, it went well, and we have common ground to continue.
Though the renovation is still in full swing, I managed to host the guests from outside our region.

It was a clear, sincere, and fruitful dialogue - not a series of monologues.

#RussianVillage #Kasimov #RyazanOblast #agriculture

Karin Kneissl official

19 July 2026 21:48

#180: Achillesferse des Welthandels

In der neuen Folge spreche ich mit Karin Kneissl über die Achillesferse des Welthandels und die dramatische Eskalation im Nahen Osten. Wir analysieren die neue Dynamik im Krieg zwischen den USA und dem Iran, die strategische Bedeutung der Straße von Hormus und die Folgen für den globalen Energiehandel.

Außerdem geht es um den milliardenschweren EU-Drohnenpakt mit der Ukraine, den erneuten Regierungsumbau in Kiew, das Unterstützertreffen in Paris sowie den überraschenden Widerstand Katars gegen den geplanten Rüstungsdeal im VW-Werk Osnabrück. Welche geopolitischen und wirtschaftlichen Verschiebungen sich derzeit abzeichnen – und warum sie weit über die aktuellen Konflikte hinausreichen.

▶️Hören Sie rein: https://youtu.be/7xPG6idIjAE?si=qLbcHDvhpEbuVVnT

Karin Kneissl official

15 July 2026 16:04

/channel/rtnews/158674


https://x.com/RT_com/status/2076952851427766382


https://rumble.com/v7cph6a-for-trump-its-all-about-the-strait-of-hormuz-fmr-austiran-fm-karin-kneissl-.html


RT:fd/KK-yt:f" rel="nofollow">https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/KK-yt:f

Karin Kneissl official

12 July 2026 15:36

#179: Chatkontrolle

In der neuen Folge spreche ich mit Karin Kneissl über die Eskalation zwischen den USA und Iran, Donald Trumps Abkehr vom Friedensabkommen und die jüngsten militärischen Entwicklungen im Nahen Osten. Außerdem analysieren wir die Beschlüsse des NATO-Gipfels, die steigenden Verteidigungsausgaben in Europa sowie Marine Le Pens erneute Kandidatur für die französische Präsidentschaft. Das und mehr – jetzt in der neuen Folge.

▶️Hören sie rein: https://youtu.be/wIBt0HB_6ok?si=82P-WQVkiwsC0YDa

Karin Kneissl official

12 July 2026 01:35

Qatari wealth fund vetoes Volkswagen plan to build missiles for Israel

Germany is seeking to shift part of its dwindling manufacturing base toward weapons production in preparation for a future war with Russia

Karin Kneissl official

05 July 2026 18:14

🔴⚡️🔴 "صبرا جميلا".. وزيرة الخارجية النمساوية السابقة كارين كنايسل متحدثة باللغة العربية خلال لقاء خاص مع RT، ومشيرة إلى أن صبر رئيس روسيا وشعبها على إرهاب كييف قد بدأ ينفد.

SUBSCRIBE | انضم إلينا 🤝

#غرفة_أخبار_RT #مباشر #RT_ArabicRT_Arabic

Karin Kneissl official

05 July 2026 18:13

Militärausgaben explodieren: Was kostet Deutschlands neuer Kurs?

https://de-rtnews.com/kurzclips/video/285055-militaerausgaben-explodieren-was-kostet-deutschlands/

https://x.com/de_rt_com/status/2073474673866952927

https://vkvideo.ru/video-134310637_456292351

RTDE:e/Milit%C3%A4rausgaben-explodieren:a" rel="nofollow">https://odysee.com/@RTDE:e/Milit%C3%A4rausgaben-explodieren:a

https://rumble.com/v7c93hg-militrausgaben-explodieren-was-kostet-deutschlands-neuer-kurs.html

/channel/rt_de/78465

/channel/MTnews_Deutsch/33505

/channel/c/1594173564/59017

/channel/c/2340026920/31814

Karin Kneissl official

05 July 2026 18:10

Good afternoon,
Yesterday I drove for 12 intense hours to Moscow and luckily got a lot of things done, buying certain construction materials for the renovation, food for the ponies and the parrots, meetings and in the evening three interviews at the RT studios.

Always a pleasure meeting the different worlds, from RT German to RT international and RT Arabic. The French colleagues had time only late in the evening but I needed to get back home, 300 km and finding a petrol station.

Life is about being organised and fatalist in parallel. That is my Lebanese school of life. And being yesterday among my Lebanese colleagues was a good booster of Lebanese spirit.

La lottà continuà ✊✊ as the old Italian wisdom says.

#RT #Lebanon

Karin Kneissl official

02 July 2026 20:59

https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/putins-diesel-export-ban-risks-new-fuel-shock-2026-07-01/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=Power-Up&utm_term=070226&lctg=684c84a549eface50a0f0add&user_email=7e4c16d0b32d06647e78bbdcf980c57c0db7757eb6fcffb431e76e5884ba098f

Good evening from the village in between home office and the construction site,

Please find below an interesting article by Reuters on the implications of a potential diesel export ban by Russia.
The next energy crisis could be in the making. Every good is transported, and mostly by trucks running on diesel....

For good reasons Trump had been warning against attacking energy infrastructure in the war between Russia and Ukraine cum Nato.

There is no more global good than crude oil and oil products. Refineries are crucial, margins are not always interesting for investors. But without refineries no industry no mobility. And the spillover could be massive and prompt.

First time I was aware of the vital role of refining was the so-called refinery bottleneck in the early 2000s when the oil price hikes revealed a recurrent theme: refineries are crucial and everything is interconnected. Back then I heard the saying: the last refinery was built in the US when Elvis Presley still gave live concerts! Little has changed.

25 years later the global oil market, the transport segment above all, is shaken by a battle for the Straits of Hormuz and the decreasing diesel export from Russia.

#diesel #refineries #Russia

Karin Kneissl official

28 June 2026 18:56

Good evening from the village after a busy day organising construction materials.
Got back from St.Petersburg early this morning by night train.
The trains are always punctual and the staff is professional and most helpful. I travelled with lots of books and things from the office.
Despite this very busy week I managed to get to the Marinsky on Friday evening. It was a last minute decision after a long day of lectures and meetings.
Valery Gergejev conducted Verdi's La Sforza del Destino.
For decades I had dreamt of watching this masterpiece. This dramatic opera was first performed in St.Petersburg before it was presented in Italy.... waiting for its independence from the Habsburgs.
We saw the Russian version with a very touching end. Apparently the Italian version is softer

Valery Gergejev is a phenomenon who runs both the Marinsky and the Bolshoi, dedicates time to his colleagues and travels across the planet....alas Europe remains closed.
He used to conduct major orchestras in Italy and Germany.
We are living in surreal times. Never before in history artists were cancelled the way the EU acts against Russian art and Russian artists.

It was a fascinating evening and I am grateful to Valery Gergejev and all the artists for this precious evening. Watching this opera in the city where it had its very first performance....
And in those years Verdi was feared by Vienna. He was so popular among Italian freedom fighters.

#Verdi #marinsky #culturecancelling

Karin Kneissl official

27 June 2026 22:52

Today, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of St. Petersburg State University hosted the debate “What Has Happened to the Fundamental Principle of Law Pacta Sunt Servanda (‘Agreements Must Be Kept’): Current Assessment in the Light of the Anti-Russia Sanctions Imposed by the EU.” Moderated by Dr. Karin Kneissl, the discussion brought together legal scholars and practitioners to examine how sanctions have affected one of the fundamental principles of international law.

The debate focused on whether the principle of pacta sunt servanda continues to provide a reliable foundation for international legal and commercial relations in the current geopolitical environment. Participants discussed the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards under sanctions, the impact of restrictive measures on contractual obligations, and the growing tension between legal certainty and political decision-making. Particular attention was paid to the relationship between European Union law and the obligations arising from international treaties, as well as the broader implications of sanctions for the stability of the international legal order.

The discussion also addressed the increasing politicisation of international law and the tendency to treat legal norms as instruments of policy rather than binding rules. Speakers reflected on the challenges this poses for international cooperation, emphasizing that selective application of legal principles weakens trust in legal institutions and undermines the predictability of international relations.

Concluding the debate, participants stressed that respect for international legal obligations remains essential for preserving confidence in international agreements and dispute resolution mechanisms. The discussion underscored that maintaining legal certainty and the consistent application of legal principles is crucial in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.

#GORKICentre #InternationalLaw #Sanctions #Arbitration #RuleOfLaw

Karin Kneissl official

27 June 2026 19:17

Today, the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of St. Petersburg State University hosted the debate “What Has Happened to the Fundamental Principle of Law Pacta Sunt Servanda (‘Agreements Must Be Kept’): Current Assessment in the Light of the Anti-Russia Sanctions Imposed by the EU.” Moderated by Dr. Karin Kneissl, the discussion brought together legal scholars and practitioners to examine how sanctions have affected one of the fundamental principles of international law.

The debate focused on whether the principle of pacta sunt servanda continues to provide a reliable foundation for international legal and commercial relations in the current geopolitical environment. Participants discussed the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards under sanctions, the impact of restrictive measures on contractual obligations, and the growing tension between legal certainty and political decision-making. Particular attention was paid to the relationship between European Union law and the obligations arising from international treaties, as well as the broader implications of sanctions for the stability of the international legal order.

The discussion also addressed the increasing politicisation of international law and the tendency to treat legal norms as instruments of policy rather than binding rules. Speakers reflected on the challenges this poses for international cooperation, emphasizing that selective application of legal principles weakens trust in legal institutions and undermines the predictability of international relations.

Concluding the debate, participants stressed that respect for international legal obligations remains essential for preserving confidence in international agreements and dispute resolution mechanisms. The discussion underscored that maintaining legal certainty and the consistent application of legal principles is crucial in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.

#GORKICentre #InternationalLaw #Sanctions #Arbitration #RuleOfLaw

Karin Kneissl official

31 July 2026 17:54

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please find attached a general information about the German version of my book Requiem for Europe which I published in Moscow in June 2024.
At St.Petersburg University Press we published the German version as well as Chinese, French, and Spanish.

Times are not getting easier, so the books can only be bought in Russia.

For various reasons I have decided to stop my telegram channel tonight. I enjoyed the good atmosphere of dialogue with many of you, learnt from your comments, and met so to say inspiring people.

I am working non stop and prefer to dedicate the remaining free time to reading books and taking good care of my little farm.

With warm regards to those with a heart, head, and backbone

Karin Kneissl

Karin Kneissl official

30 July 2026 09:36

Good morning from Planet Russia,

Last week five sheep joined us. They are taking good care of the grass.
Mother, father and their two lambs plus one orphan. A neighbouring farm gave me this four-legged family.

I will not write the names of the sheep here on the channel, otherwise they risk to turn into breaking news in little Austria which seemingly will never lose interest in my life.

Wishing everyone a peaceful day.

#RussianVillage

Karin Kneissl official

27 July 2026 18:37

https://ya62.ru/text/world/2026/07/21/76543599/

And this interview we did at the margins of our seminar.
Of course they used a certain inflationary photo though that was not the topic of the conversation 🤗

#RyazanOblast

Karin Kneissl official

26 July 2026 12:01

#181: Absolute Verwirrung

In der neuen Folge spreche ich mit Karin Kneissl über die dramatische Zuspitzung im Nahen Osten, die Gefahr einer Eskalation zwischen den USA und Iran sowie die neuesten Entwicklungen im Ukraine-Krieg. Droht mit den Spannungen an den strategischen Seewegen ein Schock für den Welthandel? Welche Folgen haben die gegenseitigen Angriffe zwischen Washington und Teheran? Und was bedeuten die personellen Umbrüche in der ukrainischen Armeeführung für den weiteren Kriegsverlauf? Darüber hinaus analysieren wir die diplomatischen Signale zwischen Russland und den USA sowie die aktuellen Entwicklungen an den Fronten.

▶️Hören Sie rein: https://youtu.be/HuHO0MFrTWg?si=Tz-f0Rf1Ca8_tjc3

Karin Kneissl official

16 July 2026 21:33

https://youtu.be/0oA5iSg_AIA?si=mhTk-2-TgMSgSOhT

Good evening,

Please find attached an interview with Ms.Akmaral Batalova, a journalist from Kazakhstan. We met at the International Security Forum in Moscow in May and we did a tour d'horizon on the recent NATO meeting in Ankara and the US-attacks against Iran. as well as the Israeli terror against Lebanon, the country I call my second home. The original in English was translated into Russian.

Karin Kneissl official

15 July 2026 16:04

Streit um Osnabrück: Wird aus dem VW-Werk eine Rüstungsfabrik?

https://de-rtnews.com/kurzclips/video/285786-streit-um-osnabrueck-wird-aus/

https://x.com/de_rt_com/status/2076746734257201366

https://vkvideo.ru/video-134310637_456292501

RTDE:e/Streit-um-Osnabr%C3%BCck--Wird-aus-dem-VW-Werk-eine-R%C3%BCstungsfabrik:5" rel="nofollow">https://odysee.com/@RTDE:e/Streit-um-Osnabr%C3%BCck--Wird-aus-dem-VW-Werk-eine-R%C3%BCstungsfabrik:5

https://rumble.com/v7cojik-streit-um-osnabrck-wird-aus-dem-vw-werk-eine-rstungsfabrik.html

/channel/rt_de/78889

/channel/MTnews_Deutsch/33929

/channel/c/2340026920/32262

/channel/c/1594173564/59467

Karin Kneissl official

12 July 2026 12:15

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/former-emir-qatar-sheikh-hamad-bin-khalifa-al-thani-dies-74-2026-07-12/

It was a surprise, sort of CNN breaking news, when in June 2013 Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thanki resigned and his son Tamim succeeded to the throne. Who ever pulled the strings bethind the curtains, the US, the British, some energy companies... peu importe, Qatar managed well this orchestrated change of leadership. Some voices claim that it was all about the Muslim Brotherhood, others were pointing the finger to the role of Al Jazeera. Now at the age of 74 he has passed away. It was during his rule that the peninsula Qatar turned into a global broker both in in the world of finance and in diplomacy.
The late senior Emir oversaw the sovereign wealth fund. It was him and his then oil minister Al-Attiyah who turned Qatar from a medium sitzed OPEC oil producer intot the global LNG leader in the 1990s.
Only a few weeks prior to the death of the Sheikh that impressive oil and gas man passed away.
Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Qatar’s former oil minister affectionately known as the “godfather of LNG,” died on 27 May. Important gas producers did not immediately understand the revolutionary changes due to the liquefication of gas. This technology made gas exporters more independent. They could pick and choose their clients instead of being tied down by pipelines. For sure geography, access to sea also play their role.

I had the honour and pleasure to meet Minister al-Attiyah several times and it was always imspiring to listen to him at the margins of the OPEC conferences im Vienna. In 2019, Qatar would quit OPEC.

On a general note, it is an irony of history that the Qatar Investment fund as an important shareholder in numerous German and French companies, such as VW, but above all banks and let us not forget football clubs, will hopefully stop the Germans from more warmongering.

As I often said during my office as foreign minister, when I wanted to meet adults I travelled east and south.

#Qatar #EmirHamadBinKhalifaAlThani #LNG

Karin Kneissl official

07 July 2026 21:34

‘Россия слишком ответственная страна, чтобы быть инициатором Третьей мировой войны. Много безумных идей у европейцев’, – Песков.

‘Соединённые Штаты также знают о возможных последствиях войны. Кроме того, у нас есть относительно хороший диалог. Наши двусторонние отношения не являются хорошими, потому что они застряли на нулевом уровне. Но, несмотря на это, мы достаточно умны, чтобы разговаривать друг с другом. Таким образом, мы слишком велики и слишком сильны с точки зрения взаимного сдерживания, чтобы вступить в войну. Но есть Европа. И, например, в головах европейских политиков есть много безумных идей. Россия должна быть стратегически побеждена. Мы должны тратить всё больше и больше денег на нашу оборону. И, пытаясь тратить всё больше и больше денег на оборону, они пытаются приблизить свою военную инфраструктуру к нашим границам. Станет ли какая-либо страна сейчас терпеть такое? Страна предпримет меры предосторожности.’

Karin Kneissl official

05 July 2026 18:14

🔴⚡️🔴 وزيرة الخارجية النمساوية السابقة كارين كنايسل:

روسيا انتظرت طويلا لترد على الهجمات ضد المدنيين، مما يظهر أن صبرها بدأ ينفد. أوروبا تستمر في الرهان على هزيمة روسيا عبر زيادة الميزانية العسكرية والتركيز على صياغة السياسة الخارجية اللتين تسعيان لتحقيق رهانها.

Karin Kneissl official

05 July 2026 18:13

RT Int:

https://rumble.com/v7c8zvy-europe-has-gone-from-lets-trade-to-lets-go-to-war-karin-kneissl.html

RT:fd/kneissel-europe-war:c" rel="nofollow">https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/kneissel-europe-war:c

Karin Kneissl official

05 July 2026 14:22

#178: Moskau soll brennen

In der neuen Folge spreche ich mit Karin Kneissl über die geopolitischen Spannungen, die den Nahen Osten, Europa und die USA zugleich erschüttern. Von den Verhandlungen zwischen Washington und Teheran über die strategische Bedeutung der Straße von Hormus bis zur jüngsten Eskalation im Ukraine-Krieg analysieren wir die Machtverschiebungen einer Welt im Umbruch. Außerdem geht es um einen mutmaßlichen Anschlag in Monaco und die Entwicklungen in den USA zum 250. Jubiläum der Unabhängigkeit.

▶️Hören Sie rein: https://youtu.be/rEXRSehi0fc?si=d4tKXmDtuZpKFs9g

Karin Kneissl official

29 June 2026 12:02

Пять неполных месяцев работы фотоловушки за 1 минуту. Камера установлена в национальном парке «Бикин» в Приморском крае. Первый снимок датирован концом августа, последний — началом января. В ролик вошли 712 фотографий.

Открывают «кино» спокойные тигры, которых мы уже показывали. Затем пришли медведи — потанцевали. Приходили изюбри — играли свадьбу. Была драка (какая свадьба без драки?!). В общем, смотрите сами.

Национальный парк «Бикин» создан в 2015 году для охраны популяции амурского тигра и его ареала, а также поддержки жизненного уклада коренных малочисленных народов в долине реки Бикин. Центр «Амурский тигр» принимал непосредственное участие в создании парка, продолжает поддерживать его деятельность и помогать местным жителям.

Karin Kneissl official

28 June 2026 16:30

#177: Hände der USA

In der neuen Folge spreche ich mit Karin Kneissl über die jüngsten Entwicklungen im Nahen Osten und ihre geopolitischen Folgen. Wir analysieren die Gespräche zwischen den USA und Iran in der Schweiz, die Zukunft der Straße von Hormus, Israels Rolle im regionalen Machtgefüge und die Auswirkungen auf Energieversorgung, Weltwirtschaft und internationale Diplomatie. Außerdem werfen wir einen Blick auf den Ukraine-Krieg, die Spannungen mit Belarus und die Frage, wie sich die globale Sicherheitsordnung gerade verändert.

▶️Hören Sie rein: https://youtu.be/a01mo4l4_Fk?si=B6gjypQAIfihbjPf

Karin Kneissl official

27 June 2026 22:31

Рязанцы выбрали объекты благоустройства на 2027 год

Подведены итоги всероссийского голосования по проекту «Формирование комфортной городской среды». В этом году свой выбор сделали более 132 тысяч рязанцев. Самыми активными стали Рязанский, Ермишинский и Сапожковский округа.

Из 102 проектов победили 32. В Рязани продолжим благоустройство Лесопарка, зелёных зон вдоль реки Павловки и пляжа у Лысой горы в Солотче. В муниципалитетах жители также выбрали важные объекты.

Полный список победивших проектов можно посмотреть на сайте.

Спасибо всем, кто принял участие в голосовании. Теперь предстоит подготовить итоговые концепции и сметы. Реализуем проекты по нацпроекту «Инфраструктура для жизни» уже в следующем году.

Подписывайтесь на мой канал в МАХ

Karin Kneissl official

27 June 2026 08:00

On 26 June, as part of the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre SPbU, Karin Kneissl delivered a lecture titled “Why meritocracy matters - a perspective for young legal scholars”.

Beginning with the origins of the term—merit (to deserve) and kratos (power)—Dr. Kneissl traced the historical evolution of meritocracy from the imperial examination system in China to the French civil service. She argued that meritocratic governance is based on transparent selection through knowledge, talent, experience, and achievement rather than personal connections. Referring to the French administrative model, she stressed that career advancement should depend on hard work, competitive examinations, and professional competence, while warning that bureaucracy, corruption, and nepotism undermine the effective implementation of laws and public institutions.

The lecture also examined the relationship between meritocracy and the rule of law. Dr. Kneissl emphasized that equal opportunities—not equal outcomes—should remain the guiding principle of a healthy society, where social mobility is earned through individual achievements. Drawing on historical examples, including the administrative practices of Genghis Khan, she illustrated how merit-based selection has contributed to effective governance across different civilizations. At the same time, she argued that theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient, as leadership also requires practical experience, judgment, and responsibility.

Concluding her lecture, Dr. Kneissl highlighted that an effective civil service is essential for the functioning of any state. Referring to Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws, she underlined the enduring importance of the separation of powers and transparent legal institutions.
She concluded that the quality of governance ultimately depends not only on legal frameworks but also on the ability of states to promote talented individuals on the basis of merit.

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