International Relations

If you cannot overthrow the tyrant, co-operate with him – after four disastrous years in Syria this seems to be the conclusion the international community has arrived at. Dr Bente Scheller, director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Middle East, comments on this simplistic approach to a complicated problem.

The trade relations of the six countries of the Eastern Partnership is a complex web of discrepancies. They have assigned different association agreements with Russia and the EU. The coexistence of these two models of economic integration poses challenges - and problems.

Jacques Delors rightly remarked that 'you don’t fall in love with the common market’. However, how can Europe become (increasingly) our homeland? Dick Pels offers some answers.

The Russian personalised power system is showing an amazing capacity to survive – even in an advanced state of decay.

During his internship, Daniel Lüchow researched on weapon exports. He conducted interviews with Sara Depauw and Nils Duquet both researchers at the Flemish Peace Institute, Kloé Tricot O’Farrell advocacy officer at Saferworld, Frank Slijper researcher at PAX, to Pierre-Arnaud Lotton, chair of the EU Council Working Party on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) and Tobias Heider advisor to The Greens/European Free Alliance on Security and Defence. Here some of his findings.

The recent terrorist attacks in Paris evoked strong reactions all around the world. The Hungarian government has reacted with proposals to restrict freedom of speech and by highlighting the problems of immigration.

With Minsk II threatened by its collapse only days after the agreement was reached, stern warnings have been voiced on both sides of the Atlantic in case the U.S. would decide to arm the Ukrainian government. But where do the German and U.S. public stand on this issue?

Just two weeks after Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin came to visit Budapest on February 17. Still, with his vision of a “work society”, there might be a good chance of Victor Orbán moving closer to Germany.

“It must be now clear to western defence chiefs that there is only one credible fighting force on the ground capable of fighting ISIS and that is the Syrian military. The Syrians [i.e. the Syrian regime] have held all the aces up their sleeve…” Such proposals are commonplace in diplomatic circles, but what is new this time is that this view is no longer limited to Assad’s supporters and allies.

On February 7 2015, a referendum on protecting the family to define marriage as a unique union between a man and a woman will be held in Slovakia. The article outlines how slovak parties deal with the referendum as an important institution.