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paternalism

January 8, 2026

Trump’s version of Atlanticism mirrors Putin’s Eurasianism

Sibei Sun The Trump administration is advancing an illiberal Atlanticism that reimagines the West in manners similar to how Putin imagines Eurasia. Sibei Sun dissects the uncanny parallels between the two geopolitical doctrines and what it all means for future transatlantic relations Read more

December 22, 2025

Strongmen and mother-figures: role models in today’s populist politics

Selina Mabrouki Populist leaders don’t just claim to represent the people – they embody them. Through strongman toughness or maternal guardianship, populists model idealised versions of a nation’s citizens, and they naturalise exclusion. Selina Mabrouki shows how contemporary populist leaders exploit gendered role models as tools of emotional persuasion Read more

July 17, 2023

Big stakes for the EU-CELAC summit

Carlos José Cruz Infante Heads of state from Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean meet on 17 and 18 July in Brussels for the long-awaited EU-CELAC summit. Despite facing a credibility crisis in the region, the EU has the tools to build a credible and strategic partnership going forward, write Carlos Cruz Infante and Johanne Døhlie Saltnes Read more

February 25, 2022

The public wants the government to protect them from themselves – sometimes

Clareta Treger In a study of public attitudes towards government paternalism, Clareta Treger finds that, when it comes to their own safety and health, individuals prefer coercive government policies over nudges that steer them towards welfare-enhancing behaviour. This should be taken into consideration when devising strategies to mitigate COVID-19 and future crises. Read more

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