Why are “culture wars” prominent in some European countries but not in others? In new research, Tadeas Cely finds roots for these divides in historic divergence embedded in religious cultures. The term “culture wars” (Kulturkampf) was famously first used by Otto von Bismarck to describe a struggle for influence with the Catholic Church (1871-1878). At … Read more
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created a dilemma for European radical right parties that had cultivated friendly ties with Vladimir Putin. Chendi Wang and Argyrios Altiparmakis analyse a decade of Facebook posts to reveal how these parties strategically managed their communications to avoid the political fallout while maintaining their Eurosceptic agenda. When Russia launched its full-scale … Read more
Investing in Ukraine’s defence industry and integrating European and Ukrainian forces would help establish Europe’s strategic independence from the United States, writes Oleg Chupryna. Donald Trump’s stance towards America’s neighbours and European allies represents a clear shift in the decades-long system of international relations. The possibility of the United States reducing its military support or … Read more
The late Polish-born Pope John Paul II famously remarked that Europe should ‘breathe with two lungs’ – its Eastern and Western halves. Two decades after the European Union’s historic enlargement in 2004, which saw the accession of ten new Member States from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), this idea is just as relevant. However, a … Read more
Diverting scarce military resources to the Indo-Pacific makes little sense at a time when Europe must contain the threat of Russia, argues Peter Harris. The transatlantic alliance is in trouble, with some Europeans fretting that President Trump is preparing to abandon not just Ukraine, but Europe as a whole – perhaps even exiting the NATO … Read more