Interview with Éric Gozlan. Statements drawn from recent exchanges and analyses.

IÉric Gozlan, the man of the grey zones

Going against official diplomacy, Éric Gozlan operates in those uncertain spaces where states alone are no longer enough to shape history. Between fieldwork, informal networks, and a systemic approach to conflicts, he embodies a new generation of hybrid actors, at the crossroads of strategy and human engagement.

Your background does not fit into traditional categories. Who are you today?

Éric Gozlan:First and foremost, I am a practitioner. Someone who acts in complex environments, where traditional frameworks no longer work. My approach is that of systemic geopolitics: I focus on interactions, invisible dynamics, and zones of friction.

I work in those interstices where official channels are absent or saturated, mobilizing so-called “track two” diplomacy formats, which help recreate dialogue where it no longer exists.

You speak about systemic geopolitics. A concept that is still uncommon…

Éric Gozlan:Because we too often continue to read the world through outdated frameworks. Yet contemporary conflicts are complex systems. They are no longer limited to confrontations between states.

They involve a multitude of political, economic, cultural, and informational actors, with intertwined logics. If you do not understand this system, you cannot act effectively.

Systemic geopolitics consists precisely in identifying these interactions and finding entry points to transform the overall dynamic.

Your legitimacy also comes from field experience. Why is that decisive?

Éric Gozlan:The field prevents you from thinking abstractly. You are confronted with human realities, perceptions, fears.

That is where you understand that conflicts are not only power struggles, but also psychological and cultural constructions.

This changes everything in how you intervene. You no longer seek only to negotiate, but to recreate conditions for understanding and, sometimes, trust.

You operate in several crisis zones. What has changed the most in recent years?

Éric Gozlan:Fragmentation. We have entered an era of fragmented conflicts, where actors multiply and lines are blurred.

Added to this is a deep crisis of trust. Institutions are challenged, narratives compete, and information itself has become a battlefield.

In this context, we must work differently: more agile, more discreet, often on a smaller scale.

You have been involved in sensitive operations, particularly concerning Ukrainian children.

Éric Gozlan:These are extremely delicate missions, where the human dimension prevails above all else.

They illustrate what field diplomacy truly is: patient, often invisible work, connecting actors who do not—or no longer—speak to each other.

It is also where we measure the concrete impact of this kind of engagement. We move from analysis to action.

You co-founded I-Transform with Isabelle Waschmuth. What is the origin of this initiative, and how does it fit into your geopolitical approach?

Éric Gozlan:I-Transform was born from a strong conviction that Isabelle Waschmuth and I share: we have entered an era of profound transformations, where crises are no longer only geopolitical in the classical sense, but systemic. They affect political balances, technological shifts, societal dynamics, and collective imaginaries.

In the face of this, traditional approaches show their limits. It is no longer enough to analyze or manage crises; we must be able to support transformation processes. That is precisely the purpose of I-Transform: to create a platform for action and reflection that combines strategic analysis, innovation, and operational engagement.

Concretely, we develop hybrid approaches that combine geopolitics, diplomacy, collective intelligence, cultural initiatives, and change management. The idea is to generate new solutions in complex environments by working simultaneously on actors, narratives, and the deep dynamics of systems.

The link with systemic geopolitics is central. This approach makes it possible to understand interactions, interdependencies, and tipping points within contemporary crises. I-Transform is its operational extension: we move from reading systems to transforming them, activating concrete levers, often at the intersection of diplomatic, societal, and cultural domains.

Finally, I-Transform is based on a key intuition: solutions will not come only from states. They emerge from the ability to connect worlds, Institutions, civil society, experts, artists, innovators—and to create spaces where new forms of cooperation become possible. It is in these hybrid zones that the real geopolitical transformations of today are taking place.

You place significant importance on culture. A surprising choice in a strategic environment…

Éric Gozlan:Not so surprising. Culture acts where politics can no longer do anything.

It touches on imaginaries, identities, and what deeply structures societies. In certain contexts, an artistic project can reopen dialogue that is impossible on a diplomatic level.

We also work with tools such as art therapy, which allow us to address trauma. It is a dimension often overlooked, but essential if we are talking about lasting transformation.

You regularly publish analyses and opinion pieces. Why this desire to share?

Éric Gozlan:Because understanding is a strategic issue.

We live in a world saturated with information, but often lacking interpretative frameworks. My goal is to make this complexity accessible, without distorting it.

And above all, to show that there are margins for action. Geopolitics is not only a matter for states: it also concerns societies, and to some extent, individuals.

What is your perspective on France in this new global landscape?

Éric Gozlan:France has considerable assets, but it must continue to reinvent itself.

Traditional forms of power are no longer sufficient. We must further integrate hybrid approaches, strengthen ties with civil society, and accept that influence also operates through non-conventional channels.

It is in this capacity for adaptation that its relevance lies today.

A final word for younger generations?

Éric Gozlan:Do not be afraid of complexity.