Europe

crime

Crimea: A Case of Déjà Vu

By Vasile Rotaru

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin has never hesitated to use its hard power in the near abroad whenever it has considered its strategic interests to be at stake. 

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For Better, For Worse, For Richer, For Poorer

By Mario Battaglini

The persistent economic downturn has increasingly affected confidence in European integration and offered compelling arguments to eurosceptics voicing their discontent. Should the European family of nations resist its poverty and sickness until death breaks it? The process of regional integration was deemed necessary to overcome national interests that had sparked conflict for many centuries, lay the foundation for peace and bring about the prosperity and well-being of its people. What went wrong? 

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Should Britain’s Railways Be Nationalised?

By Roland Bensted

The UK’s privatised railways are less efficient, and a bigger drain on public resources than the former British Rail. Nationalisation should be considered. 

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Royal Charter on Press Regulation: A False Dichotomy

By Joe Attwood

The authors of the Royal Charter on the Self-Regulation of the Press have come under a great deal of criticism in recent weeks, but if there is one thing that can be said of them it is that they have certainly read the Leveson Report.

Breivik

Anders Breivik: An Extremist or Terrorist?

By Arthur Hayes

Dr Robert Lambert, an academic at St Andrews University’s prestigious Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, has recently published an article in which he describes Anders Breivik as a “far right terrorist”. Lambert was previously in the globally renowned Metropolitan Police Special Branch. This proclamation by Lambert on the Breivik case raises an interesting question: aside from being a convicted criminal, would he have been labelled an extremist or terrorist if he had been British and committed his crimes in London instead of Oslo? 

Blair

Tony Blair: London Mayor?

By Tom Wein

Tony Blair has announced his intention to "re-engage" with British politics. It is an event that has attracted much attention. With varying levels of horror and titillation, pundits of right and left have pored over his statements, and sought to divine his ambitions. They have variously predicted that he wants to be Prime Minister, or run the IMF, or the UN, or the EU. None of these seem especially plausible. Nor does the idea that he could be a member of the Shadow Cabinet; how, without overshadowing his own boss? Yet one prominent job has not been suggested: I believe Tony Blair may run for London Mayor.

Cameron

Banker Bashing Is Useless

By Pablo de Orellana

In the aftermath of the Great Depression and World War II, social democratic ideals including welfare, social rights and moves towards equality became the basis for the transformation of European and North American societies through governmental intervention in social and economic dynamics. Considering present US reticence to federal taxation and spending, it is hard to believe Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. In the present crisis, the state of emergency is thwarting democratic debate to the extent that realist urgency, emergency and necessity are fast becoming the only currency of political debate, the only valid principles.