Good writing is crucial for spreading good ideas, and it is our most impactful authors we honour with the Writer of the Year award. This year, our Writer of the Year is Ian Golan.
Throughout the year, our students publish hundreds of articles, op-eds, books, studies and research papers in various outlets throughout Europe, with one thing in common: advocating for liberty in all aspects of life.
Managing one of Europe’s largest libertarian magazines, SpeakFreely, Ian’s days are spent writing, editing, and revising. On top of his work as the Chief Editor, Ian himself got 40 of his own articles published. His work appeared not just in SpeakFreely, but also in Project Liberal, Brussels Morning, Central European Affairs, and many more.
Ian’s main policy focus has been on the subject of consumer choice and conscription. In autumn 2024, his writing got published by the largest left-wing media in Poland, making the case against conscription from a left-friendly perspective.
In the spring of 2025, he wrote about the economics of conscription for the Mises Institute in Poland, with the article reaching a significant audience on Twitter. That same year he interviewed prof. Leszek Balcerowicz, a Polish pro-market reformer, the transhumanist leader Zoltan Istvan, and Bill Wirtz from the Consumer Choice Center.
On top of being a frequent contributor, Ian has helped manage and re-organize SpeakFreely Magazine into a more impactful platform, focusing on the relevant policy pillars, and impactful case studies.
Through his efforts, Ian not only champions the cause of liberty in his own writing, but has also helped bring many stories by students from across Europe to wider audiences, which is why we are proud to award him a well-deserved title of Writer of the Year.
