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For most Western Europeans, Sweden is nothing exceptional — a relatively small country, in terms of population, on the periphery of the continent. In the 1960s and 70s, Sweden was notorious for its sexual permissiveness. In Germany, for instance, in the 1970s, “erotic” movies had instant...
When push comes to shove, allies of the US may see their own democratic processes pushed over the side of the cliff. Before being appointed US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo occupied the position of director of the CIA. Such public figures tend to be doubly guarded and prudent, even in their...
The recent European elections have triggered dramatic changes in French politics but, with a murky political landscape, no one can predict where they might lead. The year 2019 has turned out to be rich in pretexts for political predictions. While India managed to hold an election that produced...
In the 2019 European Parliament elections, populist radical-right parties have further increased their vote shares. Academic scholarship and media coverage of the populist radical right has expanded considerably in the past few years, due to its rising prominence in global politics. In the 2019...
The results of the European elections have revealed some breakthroughs for populists. There is concern about the impact of populism on rational decision-making in many Western democracies. But there is no agreement on what "populism" means. All politics appeal — to some extent — to...
Why these European elections were different: three key insights from Germany. After years of disinterest and declining turnouts, last week’s European elections were full of suspense and surprises. In Germany, the elections were an unprecedented triumph for the Greens. More than 20% voted for...
The results of the European elections reflect far more than the simple play of party politics and the media’s obsession with hyperreal contests. The European parliamentary elections have weighed in with tallies gleaned from 28 nations. Perhaps the most awaited results came from the United...
Vladimir Putin’s divide-and-conquer strategy has attracted a dyspeptic band of right-wing populists, euroskeptics and neo-Nazis, who will likely capture a large share in the European Parliament elections this week. Europe is voting in the much-anticipated elections this week to elect a new...
Is there any hope that the European elections will bring positive change for Slovakians? This year marks the 15th anniversary of Slovakia’s accession to the European Union. But in Svidník, only a few people bother. Located in the northeast, Svidník is the main city of one of the poorest...
It can be difficult to separate the alleged watchdogs of freedom from the bloodhounds of the populist radical-right discourse. On June 6, 2017, Sweden’s national holiday, charges were filed with the Swedish international prosecution office against “a number of individuals in key positions...
The election of an inexperienced politician to Ukraine’s highest office should be taken as a signal that the country’s patience is running thin. On April 21, Ukrainians voted in the final round of the country’s presidential elections. Its result was devastating for the incumbent, President...
