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Latest Articles

System trust is key to explaining Covid-19 attitudes and behaviours

January 15, 2025

The struggle for a dignified return of refugees to Syria

January 14, 2025

🧭 The EU needs enlargement, but it may not get there

January 13, 2025

The West’s strategic mistake in disengaging from Georgia

January 9, 2025

Georgia’s Second Rose Revolution

January 9, 2025

January 15, 2025

System trust is key to explaining Covid-19 attitudes and behaviours

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many citizens put full faith in 'the system' to keep them safe. Others were inherently mistrustful. Louise Halberg Nielsen argues that such trust, or the lack of it, was a key source of pandemic-era political disagreement. Her research findings could help societies navigate future collective crises more effectively

January 14, 2025

The struggle for a dignified return of refugees to Syria

The sudden collapse of the Assad regime could result in Syrian refugees being pressured into returning. But Maissam Nimer and Susan Beth Rottmann say refugee returns must be voluntary, dignified, and sustainable – not driven by political agendas. Given Syria's shattered infrastructure, instability, and limited opportunities, 'safety' means more than simply the absence of violence

January 13, 2025

🧭 The EU needs enlargement, but it may not get there

EU enlargement could address collective action problems and stabilise its neighbourhood, but stalled accession processes may make full membership unlikely. Maria Giulia Amadio Viceré and Matteo Bonomi suggest that partial integration — engaging candidate countries in EU policies without membership — will remain the EU's main strategy for managing internal and regional crises

January 9, 2025

The West’s strategic mistake in disengaging from Georgia

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.

January 9, 2025

Georgia’s Second Rose Revolution

Georgia is undergoing its most significant mass uprising since the 2003 rose revolution, with the future of democracy in Georgia and Georgia’s future in Europe at stake. John Chin and Anastasia Kim put this unrest in context by reviewing Georgia’s revolutionary history and ongoing challenges posed by Russian sharp power

January 8, 2025

Why digital electoral campaigning needs urgent regulation

The Romanian presidential elections reveal the dangers of unregulated digital electoral campaigning, argues Gabriela Borz. To combat the risks and control the output, democracies should take urgent regulatory measures, and improve their citizens’ digital skills

January 7, 2025

Why governments should offer hope for the future

The current polycrisis is causing governments to behave in a reactive, short-termist way. But to allay anxiety and uncertainty, democratic leaders should craft positive stories about their countries' future. Political pessimism, argues Greta Groß, only risks inciting populist 'retrotopias'

January 3, 2025

🧭 'Differentiated membership' would overcome the EU’s enlargement dilemma

The EU is caught in a dilemma between its geopolitical urge to enlarge and the high institutional standards for membership. Frank Schimmelfennig argues that differentiated integration would help square the circle. Committed candidate countries could join fast, but only enjoy full rights and benefits of membership conditional on institutional progress

January 2, 2025

How voter availability shapes parties’ policy priorities

Political parties often adjust their policies to address emerging issues, or to attract — or regain — support. However, warns Fabian Habersack, such strategic pivots carry significant risks, especially if parties misjudge their electoral potential

December 23, 2024

How Turkish anti-gender actors interpret Trump's win

Islamist anti-gender actors in Turkey celebrated Donald Trump’s recent victory in the 2024 US presidential election. They believe it will reinforce a growing transnational backlash against gender equality and LGBTI+ rights. Didem Unal Abaday argues that Trump's return to power will indeed strengthen the global anti-gender movement The US election and resistance to gender ideology […]

Latest Articles

System trust is key to explaining Covid-19 attitudes and behaviours

The struggle for a dignified return of refugees to Syria

🧭 The EU needs enlargement, but it may not get there

The West’s strategic mistake in disengaging from Georgia

Georgia’s Second Rose Revolution

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