Archive

As corona spreads and becomes the central focus for millions around the globe, our experiences of the pandemic are similar but also unique to each of us. I recently reached out to a group of individuals from around the world to get a better sense of what some of our most universal and particular fears … Read More

Recent elections and the shock arrival of the coronavirus in Iran have brought the country once more into the spotlight. I spoke with Iranian scholars and experts at De Balie recently who were equally divided on what the future holds for this ancient and beleaguered Middle Eastern power. In recent years, Iran has made headlines … Read More

Coronavirus has spread from the wet markets of Wuhan, China, to the world. Each day new measures to contain its spread are announced, each day the death toll rises. Life in the time of corona is strangely like pressing the pause button and the fast forward button at the same time. In one sense lock … Read More

Last week I attended two Brexit-focused events – one from the world of politics, one from the arts – laughing or crying, both offered insight into the tragi-comedy that is Brexit.

As the EU 27 prepare to debate the corona recovery budget, ambitious plans for borrowing €750 billion on the markets mean the euro is finally coming of age. Will it also help heal long standing North/South divides?

Europe is China’s largest trading partner. But in recent months, relations between the two  have taken a definite downward turn. Corona has significantly turned the tide of public opinion in Europe. On top of this comes the worsening situation in Hong Kong and a growing awareness of aggressive Chinese disinformation campaigns aimed at Europe in … Read More

Will digital contact tracing help in the fight against COVID 19? In the absence of a vaccine, privacy concerns are being weighed against the need for large-scale tracking of infection.

More than 50% of UK voters actually voted for a pro-Remain party in last month’s general election. So how was Johnson’s pro-Brexit party able to come away with such an apparently resounding victory? Trump’s victory in the 2016 US elections was  equally counter-intuitive if you look at the numbers. Hilary Clinton won the popular vote … Read More

As US president elect, Joe Biden, prepares to take  office in January next year, the world waits to see how he will use America’s superpower status to shift geopolitical alliances and redraw diplomatic relations. In order to do this, he will need the help of the Republicans who will most likely hold a majority in … Read More

Crises can help put things in perspective. They often highlight weaknesses and problem areas with alarming clarity. The Transatlantic relationship is no different. A key feature of the post-war world, it has remained relatively unchanged for over half a century. Yet the Trump presidency has created divisions that few imagined possible a decade ago. The … Read More

As the EU leaders discuss plans for recovery post-corona, the idea of an EU Green recovery is gaining ground. But is it realistic, given the need for both speed and transparency in the months ahead?

This EU budget will include an economic recovery plan for the pandemic. Traditional divisions between north and south, east and west may prove even more stark than usual. Many also question whether Von der Leyen’s much publicised Green Deal will survive a post-corona world. But what if the Green Deal could be re-purposed to drive … Read More