July Decarpentrie
Think Paris agrees on how to handle its nuclear weapons? You are mistaken. July Decarpentrie examines French nuclear strategic debate from 1972 to the present. She argues that what appears to be a continuous doctrine is in fact shaped by ongoing debates to ensure its relevance over time and across changing geopolitical contexts Read more
Süleyman Güngör
What is seen as a symbol of pride in one country may be viewed as a provocation in another. Reflecting on the recent controversy over a footballer’s hand gesture linked to Turkish nationalism, Süleyman Güngör explores how physical expressions of cultural identity triggered international tensions Read more
Mebratu Kelecha
Democracy in Africa is at a crossroads. While regimes do hold elections, many still fail to deliver on their democratic promises. Mebratu Kelecha argues for a non-adversarial form of democracy inspired by Africa's rich Indigenous Gada system, which emphasises inclusivity, consensus-building, and cooperation Read more
Lisa Herbig
Covid-19 border closures were intended to protect public health, but their symbolic effects reached far beyond controlling the virus. Lisa Herbig argues that temporary closures significantly weakened support for European unity and increased hostility toward immigrants. Policymakers should bear in mind that even brief border closures notably shape political attitudes Read more
Maurits Meijers
Populist rhetoric often pits a virtuous people against a corrupt elite. But when populist leaders invoke these definitions, do they always mean the same thing? Maurits Meijers, Robert A. Huber, and Andrej Zaslove explore the role of ideology in such definitions, shedding light on why populism remains a powerful political force Read more
Leila Hennaoui
Leila Hennaoui examines the historical legacies of nuclear colonialism, the leadership of the Global South in reimagining nuclear governance, and the transformative shift represented by the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Read more
Marc Sanjaume-Calvet
Marc Sanjaume-Calvet challenges the widespread belief that independence referendums are definitive acts of self-determination. Drawing on cases from Western Sahara to Bougainville, he argues that these votes often serve merely symbolic or strategic functions. Here, he reveals the persistent gap between democratic aspirations and the real politics of statehood Read more
Vera Tika
Nicușor Dan’s narrow victory over far-right challenger George Simion on 18 May averted the election of Romania's first openly illiberal president. Yet Simion still managed to attract 46.4% of the vote. Vera Tika reveals how ideas born under the Iron Guard, refined under Nicolae Ceaușescu’s national-communism, and weaponised by TikTok, now dominate Romanian politics — and are testing Europe’s eastern frontier of democracy Read more
