Europe
Europe
Fair Observer provides insightful and informed analysis about important European issues, events and trends.
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United States / Europe / 360° Context / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Global Security / Asia / OceaniaDoes execution of terror suspects through drones for security trump the basic human right to life and rule of law? Background Deemed as the smartest piece of military technology guaranteeing zero casualty and highly cost efficient, Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAVs) have in the last decade revolutionized modern warfare arguably as much as they have evoked moral outrage and international debate over their legitimate use. Although around since WWI, there has been a dramatic rise in the use of UAVs, commonly known as drones, for surveillance, intelligence gathering, implementing counter-terrorism programs and targeted warfare in recent years, most notably by the United States as part of its War on...
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360° Analysis / United States / Europe / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Global Security / Asia / OceaniaFair Observer's five best Global Security articles of 2012. 1: Libya to Syria: R2P and the 'Double Standards' Issue — Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer The ‘double standards’ critique is not relevant to justify a military intervention in Syria, and denotes a dangerous romanticism in international relations. 2: The Best Laid Plans: How Quickly will the US Leave Afghanistan? — Tom Engelhardt With the 2014 withdrawal date coming closer each day, several countries are planning their exit from Afghanistan. It now becomes apparent that it is long overdue for the US to leave as well. 3: Leadership Decapitation and the End of Terrorist Groups —...
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Separatist movements gain strength in Italy again, after several decades of silence – away from Rome, back towards Vienna? It is Saturday, April 14th, 2012. The streets of South Tyrol’s capital Bozen (Bolzano in Italian) are resounding from the sounds of thousands of marching supporters of the “Los von Rom” (“Away from Rome”) Movement. They are demanding, by raising their voices and corresponding banners, a future affording them the independent development of this northernmost region of Italy. Some banners also show the popular slogan “Süd-Tirol ist nicht Italien!” (“South Tyrol is not Italy!”), which refers to the historic and linguistic links with Austria. This also explains why the red-...
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By Boa MisturaBoa Mistura is an urban art collective consisting of five Spanish artists all based in Madrid. They speak to Annika Schall about their art, working as a group and about their latest non-profit community project Luz Nas Vielas in Brazil. Annika Schall: How would you describe the art Boa Mistura is doing and how is it different from those of other urban artists? Boa Mistura: Boa Mistura are five heads, ten hands and just one heart.Maybe the thing that differentiates us from other artists is that we gave up our five individual egos for a bigger one. There are people who believe that Boa Mistura is just one artist. This is because we focus all our efforts in the same direction no matter...
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By Avi AstorWhile both Greece and Spain experience similar social and fiscal strains, the far right in Spain is failing to gain the momentum currently enjoyed by Greek extremist parties. Over the past two decades, Southern European societies have undergone profound social and cultural transformations due to a deepening of European integration, large-scale immigration, and other processes associated with globalization. While welcomed by some, the new forms of ethnic and religious diversity, and the challenges to traditional institutions and values generated by these developments have elicited unease among others. Yet only in certain contexts have extreme-right parties managed to capitalize on this...
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Arabic graffiti artist eL Seed shares his thoughts on the role of Tunisian street art, his unique mix of calligraphy and graffiti, and why contradictions are the key to overcoming difference. [View the photo feature, Graffiti, Meet Arabic Calligraphy.] If you haven’t heard of Arabic graffiti, then you may want to re-consider your preferred news source. From the onset of the revolts that swept across North Africa and the Middle East from December 2010 onwards, street art from the region has been privy to much deserved global attention. Within this new wave of interest in unconventional, revolutionary art, one particular artist has been heavily courted by the media. His name is eL Seed...
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By Tamás BereczWhile governments spend more time and funding on countering Islamic extremism, Europe faces an increasing threat from domestic extremist groups – both right- and left-wing – that are active in every country examined by the Athena Institute. After the 9/11 attacks, international terrorism became the bogeyman of the West, something that lurks in the dark and waits for the right time to strike. This fear was not unfounded. The first decade of the 21st century was dominated by Jihadi terrorism: Kuta, New York, Madrid, London. Islamist terror groups became the first priority to secret services and other authorities. The aforementioned attacks shocked the West and started an...
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360° Analysis / Art / Graffiti / Street Art / Vandalism / Europe / Arts & CultureA new kind of street art introduced by Peintre X adds color to grey city streets. “I believe that art can be more than a collector’s item that can be bought and sold.” These are the words of a Munich street artist who has started an urban art project that is trying to achieve exactly this. Peintre X literally takes art to the streets by painting small water colors which are then put in frames and attached to walls in different public places. Next to it there is a QR code connected to the artist’s homepage. A picture of the painting is taken and published on the Facebook page of Peintre X. Although paintings are mainly hung up in Munich, the paintings are also found...
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As more immediate economic concerns engulf Dutch politics, Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party is rapidly losing popular support. In The Netherlands, far-right politician Geert Wilders is a national treasure. He is the man the Dutch love to hate. But love-hate relationships can also end, and this might be the case for the politician. As the leader of the Freedom Party, Wilders briefly gained political power when he supported the minority cabinet in 2010. The minority cabinet’s cooperation with Wilders was seen as an unusual alliance, but after the Freedom Party (PVV) won 24 out of the 150 seats in Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Rutte could hardly avoid forming a coalition with them....