This year was billed as “the year of elections” due to the number of major elections taking place across the world. Michael Cox writes that while many of these elections have been turbulent affairs, we should not forget that democracy, warts and all, remains the political system of choice for most countries in the world … Read more
Extreme weather events like flooding and wildfires are often cited as evidence of the need to tackle climate change. But do these events lead to real political change? Drawing on a new study covering nine European countries, Tim Wappenhans, António Valentim, Heike Klüver and Lukas Stoetzer find no evidence of a shift in the political … Read more
Professor Steve Peers, Royal Holloway University of London Photo credit: Ggia, via Wikimedia Commons Introduction Member States’ ministers (the EU Council) are likely to agree a negotiating position this week on replacement of existing EU law on smuggling of migrants – raising questions in particular about the compatibility of this law with human rights, … Read more
It is likely to become the defining image of the dramatic events of the last week in South Korea: a leather-jacketed opposition aide seizing the barrel of the rifle of a masked soldier who had been sent by the president to storm the country’s parliament. “Let go!” Ahn Gwi-ryeong ordered the soldier. “Don’t you feel … Read more
Of course, nothing went according to plan. The Elysée had its dreams, but the weather made sure of this. On Saturday, December 7, the risk of a storm, with the wind blowing violently and the heavy rain forecast for the evening, forced the State and Church authorities to make a strategic and concerted withdrawal into … Read more
