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picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Markus Schreiber

Democracy and society

Bend and break

What sounds like pragmatism in Berlin may be something else — a quiet retreat from international law

By Alexander Schwarz, Arne Bardelle

picture alliance/dpa/- | Marton Monus

Democracy and society

EU membership comes with obligations

The aim is not to isolate Hungary. It is to prevent one government from hollowing out European standards from within

By Daniel Freund

Canva/ IPS

Economy and ecology

When the swell turns east

The China Shock 2.0 hits Europe’s industrial core. The question for Spain and the EU is not to escape the storm, but to navigate it without capsizing

By Miguel Otero-Iglesias

picture alliance/dpa/Lehtikuva | Antti Aimo-Koivisto

Democracy and society

Russia devours its own children

From ministers to comedians, Moscow’s sweeping repression shows that visibility and loyalty no longer guarantee immunity from state persecution

By Daria Boll-Palievskaya

picture alliance / dpa | Ralf Hirschberger

Economy and ecology

Keeping the climate flywheel spinning

Europe’s carbon-pricing framework is finally inducing other countries to act. Backtracking now would jeopardise that momentum

By Catherine Wolfram

picture alliance/dpa | Hendrik Schmidt

Foreign and security policy

Four lessons from four years of Russia’s invasion

The world has become accustomed to terror, believes in ritual negotiations and hopes that time will solve everything. But illusions do not stop war

By Iryna Krasnoshtan

picture alliance / PAP | Pawe³ Supernak

Democracy and society

The pendulum swings back

The Tusk government has made Poland the security anchor of Europe. How long will the pro-EU course last?

By Maria Skóra

picture alliance / Anadolu | Rusmin Radic

European integration

Its never as easy as it seems

Montenegro is far from perfect, but it is ready for reform. Will that be enough to become the 28th member of the EU?

By Konstantin Hadži-Vuković

picture alliance / MAXPPP | Thierry Thorel

Interviews

‘It’s actions now that count, not words’

Political scientist Stephen Walt on America’s shift toward predatory hegemony and the dangers of short-term strategic thinking

Canva / IPS Journal

Foreign and security policy

When guns eat butter

Romania has quietly prioritised defence at the expense of welfare, but public debate about it remains intentionally muted

By Cristian Chiscop