Mimi Mihăilescu
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but protest visuals, especially during political upheaval, read like novels. Mimi Mihăilescu shows how visuals aren't just for documentation – they persuade, polarise, and shape public opinion. In Romania, where two protest factions are currently clashing, visuals are on the frontline of political warfare Read more
Mimi Mihăilescu
Elon Musk has endorsed Călin Georgescu as Romania's next president. But what happens when a tech billionaire and a far-right Romanian politician collide? A political firestorm. In a world where billionaires and populists are manipulating elections in the name of 'democracy', Mimi Mihăilescu shows how Musk has succeeded in weaponising Romania's sovereignty Read more
John Chin
On 1 January, Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council ended and the EU made the unprecedented decision to withhold aid to Hungary over rule-of-law violations. John Chin and Mirren Hibbert put these developments in the context of continuing democratic backsliding in Hungary – and divisions over the future of Europe Read more
Milica Uvalić
The EU and the Western Balkan countries view enlargement differently. Milica Uvalić argues that despite renewed EU engagement since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, misperceptions persist, hindering Western Balkan countries’ accession. Bridging these misunderstandings is crucial to revitalising the process and aligning expectations for a shared European future Read more
John Chin
On 1 January, Poland took over the rotating EU presidency from Hungary. John Chin and Ellie Kim outline the stakes for Europe, and the imperative of promoting a democratic U-turn in central Europe – and Poland itself – after years of democratic backsliding Read more
Ana Țăranu
Hard-right ‘TikTok messiah’ Călin Georgescu was leading the Romanian presidential race when suspected Russian intervention prompted the Constitutional Court to annul the elections. Ana Țăranu analyses how the annulment feeds into the Romanian far right's polarising worldview Read more
John Chin
Winter is coming to Chișinău. On 1 January, Moscow cut off all gas exports to the former Soviet state of Moldova. John Chin and Noel Overby put this Russian energy embargo in the context of ongoing Moldovan resistance to a protracted Russian sharp power campaign Read more
Francesco Foti
The West is failing to invest against Russian encroachment in Georgia, choosing instead to break relations. Francesco Foti argues that Western disengagement will prove a serious obstacle to Georgia realigning with the West. Read more
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