Europe | IPS Journal

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Democracy and society

Eco-friendly xenophobia

With its upcoming referendum, the Swiss far right is rebranding exclusion as sustainability. If it succeeds, expect copycats across Europe

By Julius E. O. Fintelmann

picture alliance / teutopress

Interviews

‘We must openly address uncomfortable realities’

Matthias Miersch, SPD parliamentary leader, on security challenges and addressing them amid inequality

Foreign and security policy

Star wars redux

As space is set to become a central arena of geopolitical rivalry, Europe once again risks relegating itself to the role of a moralising bystander

By K.-P. Ludwig

picture alliance/dpa/TASS | Valery Sharifulin

Democracy and society

Moscow’s own goal

Russia wants to keep Armenia within its sphere of influence. Yet this mounting pressure could have exactly the opposite effect

By Narek Sukiasyan

picture alliance/Anadolu/Selcuk Acar

Foreign and security policy

Downfall of a superstar

Germany’s humiliating defeat in the race for a UN Security Council seat reveals the price of a foreign policy increasingly seen as hypocritical abroad

By Marcus Schneider

picture alliance / REUTERS | Anatolii Stepanov

Foreign and security policy

A negotiating table built on illusions

As long as the Kremlin sticks to its maximum demands, Ukraine does not need mediators — but strong allies

By Denis Trubetskoy

pa / AP | Alexander Kazakov

Foreign and security policy

Pulling up a chair

With Putin signalling a willingness to talk about his war in Ukraine, Europe cannot outsource its interests. It needs its own negotiator at the table

By Adis Ahmetovic, Christos Katsioulis

picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Vadim Ghirda

Democracy and society

The coalition that ate itself

Romania’s mainstream parties united against extremism after the 2024 elections. That alliance is now starting to fracture

By Cristian Chiscop

picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com | DOD

Foreign and security policy

The return of Dr Strangelove

Trump’s troop withdrawal and missile U-turn in Germany are symptoms of a far bigger danger: the revival of nuclear confrontation politics

By Rolf Mützenich

picture alliance / abaca | Roses Nicolas/ABACA

Democracy and society

The most deceptive form of stability

Barely visible, but crucial: the Council of Europe must demonstrate whether Europe’s human rights framework still holds up even in challenging times

By Ingmar Naumann