Category: Europe
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Environmentalists in power: the story of Austria’s Greens
REPORT On 7 January 2020 the Austrian Green Party, or Die Grüne Alternative, entered into coalition with the conservative ÖVP, making them the first environmentalist party to ascend to power in Austrian history. As many across Austria ask what is next for the Greens, Politika News follows the story of their rise, fall, and recent…
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United Ireland: flight of fancy or near reality?
Ireland united is not a new concept. If anything, it is the actual partition of the island that to many Irish and Northern Irish citizens feels like the novelty. The centenary of that partition will be celebrated by unionists this coming May, but the significance of it will go far beyond commemoration; it will add…
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Johnson promised to “level up” the UK, but this year’s A-Level fiasco proved he has no idea
OPINION Following the election in December 2019, Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised to “level up” the country, by eradicating national inequalities and giving every child equal opportunities. This is an ambitious statement from an Etonian and Oxford graduate. Johnson experienced arguably the best education that the UK has to offer, and while the idea is…
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July demonstrations in Belgrade: people against the curfew and authorities
REPORT Featured image credit: Zoran Drekalović Thousands of people gathered in the centre of Belgrade, outside the National Assembly building, on July 7th to express their discontent with President Aleksandar Vučić’s announcement of another curfew for the residents of Belgrade due to an increase in coronavirus infections. The power of social media was extremely visible…
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In the midst of the Belarus protests, Poland’s Ostpolitik requires rethinking
OPINION The hesitation of Polish diplomats during 2020 Belarusian protests exposes a deeper crisis in the Polish approach towards its Eastern neighbours. Meanwhile, Lithuanian diplomacy has proved to be surprisingly active and effective. What is the source of this difference and what are the main motives behind Poland’s Eastern policy? Only two weeks ago Zbigniew…
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Germany’s sudden rise in coronavirus cases is a stark warning for the UK
OPINION Until recently, Germany has been widely recognised as an exemplar of how to handle the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in Europe. But a recent uptick in cases in the country has mirrored similar trends in Spain, France and Italy, leading to a host of questions as to why Germany’s successful track record is now under…
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The West may have to choose caution when dealing with Lukashenko
OPINION The man commonly referred to as ‘Europe’s last dictator’ is in crisis. Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, has lost his legitimacy as the leader of the Belarusian people. Demonstrations sprung up across Belarus after official results of the presidential election on the 9th August declared that he had won 80% of…
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Juan Carlos I: a slow but steady fall from grace
REPORT Spain continues to re-evaluate the legacy of its former monarch, King Juan Carlos I. The man once revered as the architect of Spanish democracy has become mired in allegations of financial misconduct. In early August, the former monarch announced in a letter to his son, King Felipe VI, his decision to leave Spain, in…
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Cyprus, Turkey and Greece: the EU’s biggest headache
OPINION At the height of the Classical Era, the Mediterranean Sea was dubbed a ‘Greek lake’, as the mighty Greek naval vessels roamed the valuable commercial routes of the known world back then. Testament to this are the numerous Greek colonies-cities dotted on the Mediterranean shores, which eventually grew to become Europe’s most important port…
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‘The father of Turks’: Who is Atatürk and why does Turkey celebrate Victory Day?
REPORT History includes countless wars and subsequent deaths. Millions of soldiers have died throughout history to defend or occupy territories, including their homelands. Like many other nations, Turkey has a history filled with both victory and defeat. Every year on August 30th, Turkish people gather to celebrate a victory that was crucial to the founding…
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