Democracy and society | 30.10.2025 Who’s afraid of guitars? Russia’s fear of music reveals a deeper panic — the loss of control over its youth
Democracy and society | 08.05.2025 Longing for peace: how the Kremlin co-opted Victory Day What once was the most important and sacred national holiday for Russians has become a day of shame
Democracy and society | 12.11.2024 Maternity by mandate Faced with a sharp population decline, the Russian government is frantically seeking ways to push women into having more children
Democracy and society | 20.06.2024 Playing God in Putin’s Russia In Russia, denunciations are on the rise. Society is stoically accepting the relapse into Stalinism
Democracy and society | 15.03.2024 Dreams of a bygone era Russia is on a quest for ‘traditional values’, where calls for family and patriotism clash with Soviet nostalgia and historical revisionism
Democracy and society | 26.01.2024 When God supports your war The Russian Orthodox Church appears to display ever closer links to Putin’s regime and the war — losing followers in the process
Democracy and society | 04.01.2024 Russia’s women rise up Thousands of Russians were drafted for the war in Ukraine. But discontent amongst women at home is growing. Can the protest be dangerous for Putin?
The limits of a fresh start Bangladesh’s upcoming election tests whether the post-Hasina moment can deliver real political change — or just new versions of the old
What should weigh on Europe’s consciousness Europe cannot bring peace to eastern Congo, but it can choose action over inaction. Too long has the EU dodged responsibility for its involvement
Syria’s unfinished peace The latest settlement promises order after chaos. But stability will be fragile unless governance is inclusive and part of a genuine transition