Since last December, Matteo Renzi, the Italian Prime Minister, has been launching a series of rhetorical attacks against the Brussels establishment and neoliberal consensus. A review of this change in European politics and its meaning going forward.
Recently I had the pleasure of listening to a talk about the rise of populism and ‘illiberalism’ in Eastern Europe at the Legatum Institute. A report on the talk and my views thereof.
A Call to arms: On 9th February, DiEM25 is being launched at the Volksbühne in Berlin; the fight to retake European Democracy is beginning, and it’s time democrats across Europe stood up to reclaim their right as a citizen of Europe to democracy. “Carpe DiEM”
The European nations are some of the oldest and most developed in the world. But does that make them more legitimate than the Union? What is the role of the nation state in modern Europe, and why is it so important?
Nationalism, whilst generally steered clear of in most countries, is utterly shunned from the political scene in places like Germany and Spain, for historical reasons. France and Britain however, were never subject to denazification and the lasting impression that nationalism must be avoided in politics. In this discussion, I argue why nationalism must be avoided at all costs by democracies, and why nationalist rhetoric can only be a destructive force.
The weekly State of the Union update, providing summaries of European news from over the weekend; this week includes news from Germany, France and Sweden only with the HP.
With the French economy still stagnant, President Hollande gears up for another round of policies to kick-start the French economy; commentators fear this will not be enough for permanent change however.
An article about the potential impact that a Brexit could have on Anglo-Irish relations, trade as well as the Peace Process in Northern Ireland, all of which could be damaged by Brexit.
With Spain’s politics remaining stagnant and fractured since the elections in December, observers are still waiting for a breakthrough to be one by the negotiating parties; given recent developments, it seems that time might have come a little closer.
Germany is well known for being the de facto leader of the EU and its most powerful entity. However, there are many reasons to believe this is both not a permanent fixture nor an absolute one now. A commentary.
In Search of Europa 