The West is back
Putin’s war on Ukraine, and Zelensky’s heroism, force us all to take a stand. It leaves no room for neutrality, even if dressed up as an independent foreign policy. [...]
Europe
No method in Putin’s madness
Putin’s attack on Ukraine was a complete miscalculation. But that now makes it our problem. [...]
Our generation’s historic challenge
We must rediscover the cultural and political foundations of our civilisation. It is the Enlightenment values of freedom and peace that we must defend against illiberalism, both at home and abroad. [...]
Self-absorbed West needs reality check on actual existential threats
It may be a good time for a reality check, especially in Western industrialised countries. Perhaps they worry and feel helpless about things that, though bad, may not pose the most existential threats. [...]
Russia has won the war without firing a single shot
Putin may have just built up the threat of an invasion as a bluff. And why would he now want to risk economic sanctions following a war when he has already achieved his major objectives without one? [...]
A torpedo to European security
For Europe, AUKUS feels like the security outcome of a bull’s run through a China shop. Only China will be happy about the weakening of Europe – and Europe’s new divisions – that AUKUS has created. [...]
The virus in European politics
Is there anything about this worldwide pandemic that we have not talked about sufficiently after one and a half years? [...]
Dictator’s cynical game
If the EU is not careful and cannot stop Lukashenko soon, the damage to the EU’s integrity and its credibility could be severe. Lithuania badly needs more than just warm words of support. [...]
‘The most beautiful non-essential matter’
On the sidelines of profit maximisation, appeasing questionable regimes and political symbolism occurred 51 football matches. That is the summary of Euro 2020. [...]
Building for an ageing population
These sober findings put debates around New Zealand’s housing crisis into a different perspective. As bad as the housing market situation is today, there is worse to come if we do not unlock the supply side of the housing market now. [...]