Full Circle upcoming events

[Conversations] Deep Thought: A monopoly on violence (11/04/2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Deep Thought

A monopoly on violence
with Andreea Petre-Goncalves

Ideas / Conversations | Sat 11th Apr | 3-5 pm

Who is allowed to decide on whether we live or die? Max Weber named the state as the sole grantor of the ‘right’ to physical force, deployed with the blessing of the polity. In whose interest is that right exercised nowadays?

Periodically in Brussels our lives are disrupted with barbed wire and helicopters hovering overhead, as Europe’s leaders congregate to decide on the future of hundreds of millions. It is they who decide that Russia’s violence is wrong but Ukraine must fight it with one arm behind its back, its defensive violence constrained, deployed by exclusively Ukrainian flesh. It is also they who decide Israel’s defensive violence can be unconstrained and absolved of criticism, all collective rulebooks flushed down history’s toilet.

It is they who declare, like Ursula Von der Leyen, the dawn of a new era of selfish interest in which our collective safeguards are trumped by the imperative need for all to serve the very richest – in whose honour and interest all the protections of our collective acquis can be burned down in a bonfire of simplification. It is they, like Bart de Wever, following the same logic, who take it full circle by calling for relations with Russia to be normalised.

Are societal cleavages still situated between left or right, between woke and populist, between nationalist and globalist? Or do we find them now between an unaccountable elite burning our collective assets without permission, and a silent mass being sacrificed at the altar of exploitation, greed, and yes, unhindered violence.

Has the time come to file for a divorce, to recognise our elites as ‘other’ and plan for their replacement, as we did in Eastern Europe in 1989? Join us for an unconstrained discussion.

Open to everyone

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ABOUT THE HOST

Andreea Petre-Goncalves was 8 years old when totalitarian Communism collapsed overnight in her native Romania. She saw then how quickly yesterday’s absolute truth can become tomorrow reviled atrocity. She knows that societal narratives can shift fast, and when they do, they make deep system re-set possible. For two decades she worked for international development, human rights, health and sustainability in the EU institutions and international NGOs. In 2019 she set up Flare, a Brussels-based think-and-do tank that experiments with practical ways of shifting the collective ideas we hold of what is normal and desirable. This work builds on 15 years of her researching and writing about societal narrative shifts. She is a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader and a member of Global Diplomacy Lab.

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Small (10-15)	Available on request

[Conversations] Critical Conversations on Conflict & Peace: Krav Maga, A primer (11/04/2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ON
CONFLICT & PEACE

Krav Maga: Tactical Basics
Sandra Melone & Anne Wanielista

Conversations | Sat 11th Apr | 5-7pm

Open to everyone | Booking required

Bar open

For our April session, we shift from reflection to immediate action - quite literally. With the guidance of our host Sandra and instructor Anne Wanielista we step into a physical exploration of boundaries, confidence, and personal safety through the practice of Krav Maga.

Developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, Krav Maga was born from the simple yet profound purpose to give ordinary people practical tools to protect themselves in real‑life situations. It is not a sport, but a pragmatic self‑defense system designed to be accessible, instinctive, and effective under stress. It occupies a unique place in the “martial arts” landscape, bridging physical technique, mental resilience, and situational awareness.

With Krav Maga instructor Anne Wanielista, we will explore how to recognise, set, and defend our personal boundaries. You will learn a handful of simple techniques - small actions that can make a meaningful difference in moments of danger. The workshop will be physical, but always held in a benevolent, supportive atmosphere. Expect to move, to learn, and to laugh; humor is one of the most powerful tools for learning and for releasing tension.

** Please come in sport clothing and comfortable shoes.

Our co‑host, Anne Wanielista, brings a rich and fascinating background. Passionate about intelligence and security in all its forms, she has been a certified Krav Maga instructor since 2012. Her training spans Belgium (civilian and children certifications), several European countries, and Israel, where she completed a VIP protection certification. Beyond her martial arts expertise, Anne contributes to the protection of national economic and scientific heritage - an extension of her commitment to safeguarding what matters.

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ABOUT THE HOST

Hosting the Series is Sandra Djuvara Melone, CEO of Zancora Consulting, which she founded in 2021, with a strong expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, crisis management, human rights and, not last, gender. With a vast experience on the ground, she has worked across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. She knows first hand what living through civil war is like. Sandra is the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Search for Common Ground, Europe, one of the world’s leading international non-governmental organisations working in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, where she's been involved in various roles since 1995. Sandra is a founding member of the European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation (EPCPT), of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), and of the Child Soldiers Initiative (CSI). Before dedicating her career to conflict transformation, Sandra worked in human rights advocacy with Amnesty International, and in international education.

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Small (10-20)	Available on request

[Ideas] Act On Democracy: Essentials in the Age of AI, part I (18/04/2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Act on DEMOCRACY

Essentials in the age of AI — A Deeper Dive:

Attention, Engagement, and the Democratic Mind

Organised and led by:
tech & democracy analyst Maria Koomen
neuroscientists and policy analysts Nicoleta Prutean and Virginia Mahieu

Ideas / Action | Sat 18th Apr | 2-4:30 pm

*Act On sessions offer quarterly action-oriented get-togethers on a specific issue, between experts and an audience willing to DO something about it.*

Our very first Act on Democracy session focused on 'the essentials': the five core human capacities underpinning our democracies (comprehend, connect, create, communicate, and cope) and explored how AI-driven technologies are reshaping each one.

We are now taking a deeper dive, examining the specific design features behind that reshaping, what they mean for our democratic citizenship, and how we might build something better.

This workshop focuses on how platforms are built to capture and hold our attention, and what this does to our capacity to comprehend complexity, think independently, and express ourselves authentically. From infinite scroll to AI-generated summaries, we examine how engagement-optimised design erodes the epistemic foundations democracy depends on: curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to imagine alternatives. We then ask what attention and engagement design would look like if it served human flourishing rather than commercial extraction, and what tools Europe has to get us there.

[Save the date for part II! On Saturday 30th May we dive into Social Architectures and Democractic Resilience]

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ABOUT THE HOSTS

Maria Koomen is a Democracy, governance & tech analyst and advocacy specialist. She is the former governance director at the Centre for Future Generations, working on the challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies, democracy, and governance. Her work focused on ensuring that governance systems evolve to keep pace with technological and societal change. Maria led the Open Governance Network for Europe, a joint initiative of Open Government Partnership and Democratic Society to drive connection, dialogue, and learning around public participation, transparency, and accountability with an eye to improving democracy and governance in and across the European Union. Prior to that Maria was senior programme manager on the Democracy Conflict & Governance program at the Carnegie Europe.

Nicoleta Prutean is a neuroscientist and policy analyst, currently leading research on tech & the brain at the Centre for Future Generations. Drawing on her expertise in brain science, her mission is to ensure that evidence on how emerging technologies affect mental health translates into policies that both protect and empower future generations.

Virginia Mahieu is a neuroscientist and policy analyst, neurotechnology Director at the Centre for Future Generations. She explores how neurotechnologies impact society, combining neuroscience and foresight to ensure that governance frameworks are up to scratch so these emerging technologies contribute to a brain-healthy future. She previously worked at the Policy Foresight Unit and the Scientific Foresight Unit of the European Parliamentary Research Service, where she specialised in futures literacy, behavioural insights, and scenario planning at the science-policy interface.

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Medium <30	Available on request

[Culture] Film Screening: The Cost of Growth (18/04/2026)

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Film & Discussion

The Cost of Growth

2025, Eng | Duration 93' | Age recommended 13+

The film will be followed by discussion with
director Thomas Maddens

Culture | Sat 18th Apr | 5-7 pm

The Cost of Growth is an eye-opening documentary following two climate activists as they investigate the root causes of today’s polycrisis. Through conversations with grassroots movements, economic experts, and policy and business insiders, the film examines the structural flaws of an economy dependent on endless growth. With a global perspective and a strong focus on Europe’s political role, it connects stories of changemakers from Brussels to Serbia and from Sápmi to Italy.

As ecological breakdown, inequality and polarisation intensify, the film exposes the hidden costs of global capitalism while highlighting hopeful alternatives. The Cost of Growth showcases communities and movements working towards ecological and economic justice, and explores pathways to a democratic, bottom-up economy beyond growth.

Join our conversation with film director Thomas Maddens after the screening. Together we deepen understanding, amplify our voices and take action.

Watch the trailer here

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Medium (~40)	Available on request

[Salon] Lisa Herzog: The democratic marketplace (20/04/2026)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:30:00 GMT

THE DEMOCRATIC MARKETPLACE

HOW A MORE EQUAL ECONOMY CAN SAVE OUR POLITICAL IDEALS

A salon with LISA HERZOG

Ideas / Salon | Mon 20th Apr | 6.30-8.30 pm

*Doors open at 6.30pm. The speaker will start at 7pm.

Not a Member yet? Join Full Circle now & come to events at the Members' rate!

Democracy has been hollowed out by capitalism. A narrow view of markets and their aims—prioritizing efficiency, profit, and growth—now dominates thinking about democracy itself. Citizens are ignorant of the deep principles of self-governance, having long since adopted a facile equation between democracy and voting as a consumer choice. Lisa Herzog argues that democracy is still possible, but only if democratic values get embedded in everyday experience—including economic experience. That requires new ways of thinking about markets and their goals, and real reforms.

Lisa speaks about the foundational structures of a democratic economy, in which markets are not just tools for maximizing profit, but instead balance growth with goals like ecological sustainability and the preservation of time outside of work. These are not utopian dreams, Herzog contends. The proposals of democratic economics are already being tested around the world. And the shift in social norms that are needed is already under way.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Lisa Herzog is Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Groningen. She works at the intersection of political philosophy and economic thought. Herzog has published on the philosophical dimensions of markets (both historical and systemical), liberalism and social justice, ethics in organizations and the future of work. She currently focuses on workplace democracy, professional ethics, and the role of knowledge in democracies. She is a co-editor of the interdisciplinary journal Review of Social Economy.

GOOD READS

The Democratic Marketplace: How a More Equal Economy Can Save Our Political Ideals (2025); Citizen Knowledge: Markets, Experts, and the Infrastructure of Democracy (2022).

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Medium (30-40)	Available on request

[Ideas] Act On Democracy: Essentials in the Age of AI, part II (30/05/2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Act on DEMOCRACY

Essentials in the age of AI — A Deeper Dive:

Social Architectures and Democratic Resilience

Organised and led by:
tech & democracy analyst Maria Koomen
neuroscientists and policy analysts Nicoleta Prutean and Virginia Mahieu

Ideas / Action | Sat 30th May | 2-4:30 pm

*Act On sessions offer quarterly action-oriented get-togethers on a specific issue, between experts and an audience willing to DO something about it.*

This workshop turns our attention to how algorithmic systems shape who we connect with, how we relate, and how we cope. Recommender systems and AI-mediated platforms promise connection while quietly replacing serendipity and solidarity with curated, frictionless matching. We explore what this means for our capacity to act collectively, tolerate uncertainty, and sustain the civic bonds democratic systems depend on, and what alternative social architectures, business models, and regulatory levers could strengthen them.

With this session we take a deeper dive into 'the essentials' - the five core human capacities underpinning our democracies (comprehend, connect, create, communicate, and cope) and explore how AI-driven technologies are reshaping each one. We thoughtfully examine the specific design features behind that reshaping, what they mean for our democratic citizenship, and how we might build something better. Join us.

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ABOUT THE HOSTS

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Medium <30	Available on request

[Conversations] Deep Thought Series with Andreea Petre-Goncalves (30/05/2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Deep Thought series

with Andreea Petre-Goncalves

Ideas / Conversations | Sat 30th May | 5-7pm

Join us for a hopeful conversation with Andreea

* Save the date, more details coming soon *

In the Deep Thought series, Andreea offers opportunities to interrogate our ideas of what is normal and desirable in society. Together we walk towards the mindset shifts that are needed to protect our planet, make the world safe and ensure lives and dignity and meaning for all. Deep Thought is a space for courage and authenticity, with no stone left unturned. We build trust, encourage each other and take action together.

What happens to trust in a transactional world? What does a selfish society do for our happiness? What does meaningful work mean in an era of precarity, automation and uncertainty? What is society for? Join us for our monthly conversations.

Open to everyone

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ABOUT THE HOST

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Small (10-15)	Available on request

[Ideas] Act On Democracy: theme to be announced soon (13/06/2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Act on DEMOCRACY

with Maria Koomen

Ideas / Action | Sat 13th Jun | 2-4:30 pm

*Act On sessions offer quarterly action-oriented get-togethers on a specific issue, between experts and an audience willing to DO something about it.*

Save the date to act on democracy. More info coming soon.

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ABOUT THE HOSTS

ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Medium <30	Available on request

This week's news: The Inside Story (24/06/2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This week's news:

The Inside Story

A news commentary with

James Kanter

Ideas / Conversations / Wed 24th Jun / 7-8.30 pm

Live & On the Record: A Podcast Launch with James Kanter

Join us for the live debut of This Week's News, bringing Europe's most consequential stories to life and hosted by veteran Brussels journalist James Kanter.

With a live audience, a rotating cast of sharp journalistic voices and analysis driven by what is defining the news cycle, This Week's News is built to move with the moment — and this first recording is where it all begins.

Every episode, James Kanter weaves together guests, stories and debate into one compelling conversation. For this one, he'll be joined by a panel of fellow journalists, each bringing their own perspective, skilled analysis and comment for much needed sense-making — the first of many line-ups that will shift and evolve as the news demands.

No fixed agenda or guests. Just the stories that matter right now, told by the people closest to them. From the corridors of EU power to the fault lines reshaping the continent, the panel will dig into the headlines, share the dispatches that didn't make the front page, and debate the forces defining our world — live, unscripted, in front of you.

Whether you're a policy wonk, a news junkie, or simply trying to make sense of it's happening around you and the wider world, this is your invitation to be part of something from day one.

Join us for the news. Stay for the conversation.

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ABOUT THE HOST

James Kanter is an American and British award-winning journalist and Brussels-based commentator on EU affairs. Previously at Herald Tribune and The New York Times. He's co-founder and editor of the Podcast EU Scream.

[Conversations] Deep Thought: Theme coming soon (27/06/2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Deep Thought

A Series with Andreea Petre-Goncalves

Ideas / Conversations | Sat 27th Jun | 5-7 pm

Join us for a hopeful conversation with Andreea

* Stay tuned, more details coming soon *

Open to everyone

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ABOUT THE HOST

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ADDITIONAL INFO


FOOD & DRINK	EVENT SIZE	ACCESS
Bar & snacks	Small (10-15)	Available on request

[Ideas] Ideas Festival 2026 WEEKEND or DAY Pass (20/11/2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

FESTIVAL OF IDEAS 2026

"CONNECTION"

Fri 20th - Sat 21st - Sun 22nd Nov

You already know us, you know what we do, and that by coming YOU make this a great event!

Get your EARLYBIRD pass for the entire weekend today!

Full Circle upcoming events

[Conversations] Deep Thought: A monopoly on violence (11/04/2026)

Deep Thought

ABOUT THE HOST

[Conversations] Critical Conversations on Conflict & Peace: Krav Maga, A primer (11/04/2026)

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ON CONFLICT & PEACE

ABOUT THE HOST

[Ideas] Act On Democracy: Essentials in the Age of AI, part I (18/04/2026)

Act on DEMOCRACY

ABOUT THE HOSTS

[Culture] Film Screening: The Cost of Growth (18/04/2026)

Join our conversation with film director Thomas Maddens after the screening. Together we deepen understanding, amplify our voices and take action.

[Salon] Lisa Herzog: The democratic marketplace (20/04/2026)

THE DEMOCRATIC MARKETPLACE

A salon with LISA HERZOG

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

GOOD READS

[Ideas] Act On Democracy: Essentials in the Age of AI, part II (30/05/2026)

Act on DEMOCRACY

ABOUT THE HOSTS

[Conversations] Deep Thought Series with Andreea Petre-Goncalves (30/05/2026)

Deep Thought series

ABOUT THE HOST

[Ideas] Act On Democracy: theme to be announced soon (13/06/2026)

Act on DEMOCRACY

ABOUT THE HOSTS

This week's news: The Inside Story (24/06/2026)

This week's news:

The Inside Story

ABOUT THE HOST

[Conversations] Deep Thought: Theme coming soon (27/06/2026)

Deep Thought

ABOUT THE HOST

[Ideas] Ideas Festival 2026 WEEKEND or DAY Pass (20/11/2026)

FESTIVAL OF IDEAS 2026

"CONNECTION"

Fri 20th - Sat 21st - Sun 22nd Nov

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ON
CONFLICT & PEACE