EU enlargement to Ukraine is a strategic necessity, but cannot rest on geopolitics alone. To avoid backlash, the EU must confront policy dilemmas openly, from rule of law to agriculture, and offer realistic compromises. Antoaneta Dimitrova argues that public support depends on political leaders’ ability to offer a credible narrative to counter negative publicity
Austrian parties have finally formed a new government – on their third bargaining attempt. The failure of the previous rounds drew media criticism of timewasting. But Matthew E Bergman and Wolfgang C Müller argue that time spent bargaining is in fact an investment in future government policy productivity
Artificial Intelligence promises unprecedented access to the world’s knowledge, yet delivers a curated illusion. As algorithms prioritise engagement over understanding, what appears open is in fact tightly controlled. Soumi Banerjee explores how algorithmic mediation deepens inequalities, shaping not just what we see — but how, and whether, we understand it
Stefano Intropido shows how Pope Francis reshaped the Church’s care for forced migrants by blending tradition with bold reform. As Cardinals choose his successor, Francis' forward-thinking legacy offers a promising blueprint for a more people‐centred future
Bashar Assad is ousted in Syria; Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis weakened in ongoing conflicts. All this has significantly weakened Iran’s 'axis of resistance'. John Chin and Mary Urso argue that the crisis of Iran’s regional proxies is leading Iran to strengthen cooperation with a global network of autocracies
Valeriia Gergiieva examines the Iranian nuclear dilemma, from its non-compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards in 2003 to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement and its eventual collapse. She analyses ongoing challenges around Iran’s nuclear policy, including its growing uranium stockpile, and renewal of pressure from the US
The European Commission has proposed a new system for returning third-country nationals staying illegally in the EU: sending them to designated holding areas before deportation. Zeynep Şahin Mencütek and Soner Barthoma explain why its plan will not work
Jochem Vanagt and Markus Kollberg show that coalition governments bring voters of different parties closer together only if people believe those coalitions are doing a good job. When voters think coalitions are performing badly, partisan hostility remains high. Their insights have significant implications for efforts to reduce affective polarisation
Đorđe Milosav explores how young men are reshaping Europe's political landscape. Drawing on European Election Study data, and based on recent co-authored research, he shows that rising male support for the far right is a generational shift — with potentially serious democratic consequences
Homeland elections – particularly contentious ones – can trigger uprisings among expatriate populations. But as migrants organise protests from afar, home-country governments are increasingly developing ways to push back against them. İmren Borsuk explores how dissent travels among Turkey’s emigrants, and how the Turkish regime is responding across borders
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