Articles

Large-scale religious-historical references are readily used to explain recent events in the Middle East. In reality, however, protagonists pursue mundane interests: money and power.

"In a globalised world that is closely interconnected through trade, investment, migration and the Internet, a ‘without us’ attitude just isn’t realistic", emphazised Ralf Fücks in his opening speech of our 15th Annual Foreign Policy Conference, which asked for current status of Germany's foreign policy.

The European mission is not accomplished. There are new challenges Europe has to face: internal ones like voting fatigue, growing nationalism and the rise of Eurosceptical forces.

Where did UKIP come from, who is supporting it, and what does its rise reveal about British and also European politics?

Remembrance cultures are more complex and diverse than a mere look at state-carried, nationalist commemorative practices might show. This complexity is present in and around Ypres.

The Brazilian Congress and the authorities approved in the last five years numerous exceptions to important democratic rules to favor private interests. It is good that the Brazilian people defend themselves against it. Even to protect football.

This paper first turns to the question of the EU’s impact on democracy in would-be and new Member States and whether it has helped to overcome the division of the continent. The EU’s ability to trigger liberal democratic reforms in candidate countries should not be overestimated, especially when it faces illiberal and authoritarian governments.

When Europeans commemorate the Great War of 1914-18 this summer they should be reflecting not only on the diplomatic blunders and the enormous waste of lives but also the beginning of a new approach to international relations epitomised by the EU.

The events happening in Ukraine are dividing the German public like hardly any other political event before. But this is not so much about Ukraine. The empathy or antipathy for the revolt against the Yanukovych regime is blanketed by a deeper difference: the view of Russia.