Russia’s attack on Ukraine has undoubtedly strengthened the very foundations of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Solidarity has become a guide to action since 24th February 2022. Special attention was quickly focused on Germany after a historic speech by the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, on 28th February, in which…
Putin, Biden and Zelensky will go down in history! Putin as the leader of the Russian forces attacking Ukraine with criminal brutality; Biden as an appeaser from a great power that couldn’t or wouldn’t make it clear to the Russians what the consequences of an attack on Ukraine might be; Zelensky as the President and…
2021 was marked by the hope that the Covid-19 pandemic could be brought under control throughout the world. There was also hope that the newly elected the US President could restore order to the world after his predecessor had wreaked havoc internationally and attempted in his own country, with the storming of Congress by his…
In a few decades time, will historians judge that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was wise? Will the uncoordinated withdrawal of the NATO allies enable the USA to maintain its position as the world’s No1 power by shifting its geostrategic focus from the sprawling, continental and militarily ungovernable Middle East to the Indo-Pacific region?…
Anyone who has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion should be protected by the Geneva Refugee Convention which celebrates its 70th anniversary on 28th July 2021. Any person meeting these universal criteria is a refugee and should never be pushed…
The adverse impacts of climate change are being felt across the world and the pressures on our planet are increasing. The protection of our environment is no longer an option and urgently requires strong and even radical measures to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases. It is therefore of the utmost importance to tackle the…
Donald Trump’s presidency was characterised first and foremost by his extravagant personality and his populism, but it also wrought a profound change in American politics.Today, populism is a feature of all democracies and the 46th President-elect, Joe Biden, would do well to cultivate a moderate populism if he is to “restore the soul” of his…
This summer was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still ravaging people worldwide. At least 1 million people have now died from the virus. This grim milestone comes only eight months after we learned about a mysterious virus infecting people in China. And the pandemic is currently regaining strength. How strongly populations will be…
Like a tsunami leaving its devastating footprint, the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world like lightning and made no difference between rich and poor, leaving blighted hopes and provoking a societal crisis due to economic stagnation. Some countries will cope better than others, but the recovery will be long, painful and costly for all. Upcoming societal…
Why are populist movements in Europe currently getting stronger and more influential? Will the European institutions survive if, after the elections to the new European Parliament, there is a widespread presence of Eurosceptic members intentionally criticising the work of the Parliament? Must we fear that the achievements of the Union over the last 60 years…