Austrian far-right victory: fleeting anomaly or lasting transformation?
Austria, long governed by a de facto two-party system, experienced a seismic shift in its political landscape in the most recent elections.
Elite are cracking down on free speech to stop true democracy
Although this might seem counterintuitive given the current political culture, but there is a realistic chance that voting for what the media calls the “far Right” is…
Who created victorious AfD and BSW? Merkel and her mates, deaf to the people
The German author Jakob Nolte wrote in one of his novels that things that kill you by either “peng peng” or “bla bla.
Cost-benefit of European mass migration: mostly just crime and billions spent on welfare
We need to redefine the term terrorism.
What the Right now fights: the Left’s hatred of Western civilisation
There are many theories circulating at the moment as to why the political environment seems to get ever more polarised.
EU’s ‘degrowth’ means rich stay rich, the poor are made even poorer
It is hard to distinguish whether an action is driven by malice or incompetence when the results are the same.
Internal combustion going nowhere, as EVs fail to rev buyers’ engines
I just came across a Los Angeles Times headline: “The electric automobile will quickly and easily take precedence over all other kinds of motor carriages, as soon as an…
Threatened with death, Trump roars out, ‘Fight, fight’
There is still a lot of speculation about the wannabe assassin of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
‘Shy right-wingers’ no longer hide, they demand change now
Depending on whom you ask, the National Rally’s 33.
US debate: even Democrats say Biden cannot go on like this
As long-time readers of my column know, I have something of a soft spot for Donald Trump, so I think it is only fair to give the first word to those who do not suffer from…
Classical masculine virtues are essential for civilisation
I am generally suspicious of too much nostalgia, because as human beings we often have the tendency to disproportionally glorify or condemn the past.
EU still heading toward a cliff edge, but more slowly
The revolution is postponed – but not necessarily cancelled.
China’s secret billions buy the soul of Western universities
In a 2019 speech, the internet pioneer Peter Thiel worried about possible high-level infiltration of American companies and universities by the Chinese.
The US unmatched in military force, but has no strategy
The two most important elements a state needs to have at its disposal in the international arena are first, a strategy, and second, the capabilities to execute said strategy.
Rule of the gods: cut access to energy, cut prosperity
In the end, Zeus was right. When he punished Prometheus for giving fire to humanity, the old Greek god must have known that their days are now numbered.
Arab states know Iran not Israel is the bigger threat
If one views the Arab-Israeli conflict through the ongoing campus protests at US universities, one could easily get the impression that Israel might be winning militarily,…
Argentina’s new leader reminiscent of ‘Iron Lady’ Thatcher
Almost 41 years after losing the war over the Falkland Islands to Britain, Argentina has found its Latino version of then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher: President Javier…
The Middle East is not yet at the brink of all out war – but Iran’s missile attack on Israel has certainly made it closer
Luckily for the world, most policy decisions are not made on X.
Russia has no future and China will seize this opportunity: It may not look like it now, but the two powers are destined for future conflict
The current policy of Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to be a demonstration of strength, but in reality, it is a symptom of Russian weakness.
Qin dynasty China, a presidential assassination and post-Covid Sweden: They all have lessons on administrative reform for the European Union
To dispel the concerns of any reader that this will turn out to be a lengthy piece on the subject of bureaucracy, I begin with an assassination. US President James A.
Is Austria becoming a country of beer addicted communists? The rise of two fringe parties might suggest so – but disillusionment with the mainstream Left is a better explanation
It is often forgotten, but when it comes to populist politics, the small country of Austria is a bellwether.
Germany used to be Europe’s economic powerhouse – it is fast becoming today’s sick man of Europe
In 2010, the now German minister of the economy Robert Habeck wrote, in his book published that year, that “patriotism, love of country, that makes me want to vomit”.
War in Ukraine has gone on too long and cost too many lives – only a second Trump presidency has the chance of bringing peace with honour for Kyiv
Despite widespread media reports to the contrary, the reelection of Donald Trump might be the most desirable outcome for Ukraine in the upcoming US presidential elections.
Macron is no Napoleon and no Talleyrand: Floating his proposal of sending troops to Ukraine was a work of stunning political ineptness that only boosted Putin
Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord must have been the world’s greatest political survival artist.
A tale of two energy revolutions: How Germany got it astonishingly wrong and the United States got it astoundingly right. Now the whole of Europe needs to choose
Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities famously begins:
European nationalism’s roots are found in nineteenth century liberalism – if the EU sweeps away the nation-state it will prove a victory for the forces of reaction
The upcoming elections in Europe are often described as a competition between the reactionary forces of a resurgent nationalism and the cosmopolitanism of liberal progressive.
Europe’s Empires don’t survive: This is something the European Commission still needs to learn
The European Union will have to decide: Does it want to give in or resist the temptation to turn into an empire?
Sanctions nearly always fail: That is the lesson the EU and the United States should take from their vain attempts to curtail Russia and China
The last year has shown significant shortcomings when it comes to West’s ability to use economic statecraft as a tool in international politics.
Civilisational confidence: What the West lacks is not weaponry but a belief in itself. Without it, we are sure to lose the next war
In recent days, a flurry of articles has warned of an impending war with Russia, with the UK Army Chief talking about the potential need for the largest mobilisation since…
‘Biden’s green LNG review risks making US energy dependent’
According to a recent report in Politico, the current US administration is conducting a review of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export facilities under construction that could…