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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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Macron’s new government ditches LREM’s left-wing pretences
OPINION After the municipal elections in June, Emmanuel Macron’s government reshuffle has heralded the appearance of a number of “Sarkozyistes” : a Prime Minister (Jean Castex) who was Deputy Secretary General to Nicolas Sarkozy, a Home Secretary (Gérard Darmanin) who refers to the former President as a mentor, a Culture Minister (Franck Riester) who served […]
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Corrupt nationalists could bring another war to Bosnia
OPINION Years of mismanagement, nationalist rhetoric and endemic corruption have led to a tragedy of epic proportions that has unfolded under the nose of Europe – one that the European community has helped facilitate and, seemingly, is choosing to ignore. Of which tragedy do I speak? That of today’s Republika Srpska, tucked away in southeastern […]
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What happened at the Republican Convention 2020?
REPORT Donald Trump sparked strong criticism from government ethics experts after deciding to hold this year’s Republican National Convention at the White House. As Joe Biden continues to lead in the polls and the state of the nation struggles to recover from a period of multiple crises, how did the RNC try to convince voters […]
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What happened at the Democratic Convention 2020?
REPORT The Democratic Convention came to a close on Thursday 20th August and was another opportunity for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to convince voters from all parts of the spectrum that their ticket is the right choice for the nation. As polls suggest the gap between Biden and Trump is starting to close, how […]