Governance
The EU Has Agreed to Open Membership Talks With Ukraine. That Does Not Mean Ukraine Is Joining Anytime Soon.
The European Union made one of its most consequential decisions since Russia invaded Ukraine this week. On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and granted candidate status to Georgia.
Climate Change Has Already Caused Damage That Cannot Be Adapted Away. Now Comes the Harder Question: Who Pays?
COP28 opened in Dubai this week with an agreement that climate negotiations have struggled towards for decades. Governments formally operationalised a new Loss and Damage Fund intended to provide financial support to developing countries facing…
Geert Wilders Won the Dutch Election. He Still Has to Convince Other Parties to Let Him Govern.
The Netherlands produced one of Europe’s largest electoral surprises this week. Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom, or PVV, won 37 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, making it comfortably the largest party after years…
Argentina Has Chosen Radical Change. Winning the Election Was the Easy Part.
Argentina has chosen Javier Milei. Economy minister Sergio Massa conceded tonight after Milei won the presidential runoff by a decisive margin, completing one of the most extraordinary political rises in modern Argentine history. Milei entered…
Portugal’s Prime Minister Resigned Without Being Convicted of Anything. That May Be What Political Responsibility Is Supposed to Mean.
Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa resigned on Tuesday, ending nearly eight years at the head of government after prosecutors investigating alleged corruption surrounding lithium mining, hydrogen production and major investment projects searched government ministries and…
Pakistan Will Hold an Election in February. The More Important Contest Is Already Happening.
Pakistan finally has an election date. The Election Commission announced this week that the country’s general election will take place on 8 February 2024, ending months of uncertainty over when voters will choose a new…
Argentina Has Nearly 140% Inflation. Its Economy Minister Just Finished First.
Argentina voted today in the first round of its presidential election, and the result initially appears almost impossible to reconcile with the country’s economic conditions. Economy Minister Sergio Massa finished first with roughly 37% of…
Poland’s Opposition May Have Defeated a Government Accused of Weakening Democratic Institutions. Now It Has to Repair Them Without Doing the Same Thing.
Poland voted today in an election that may end eight years of government by the conservative Law and Justice party, or PiS. PiS remains the largest individual party, winning roughly 35% of the vote according…
Kevin McCarthy Prevented a Government Shutdown. Three Days Later, His Own Party Helped Remove Him.
The United States House of Representatives removed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker on Tuesday, something that had never happened before in American history. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats who voted to support a motion introduced by…
The Storm Hit Libya. The Scale of the Disaster Was Built Over Years.
Thousands of people are dead and thousands more remain missing after catastrophic flooding devastated the eastern Libyan city of Derna early on Monday. Storm Daniel brought intense rainfall across the region, but the most destructive…
India Did Not Choose Between the West, Russia and the Global South at the G20. That May Be Exactly Why It Mattered.
The G20 summit concluded in New Delhi today with an outcome that looked surprisingly conventional considering how divided its members have become. The group produced a consensus declaration despite disagreements over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,…
BRICS Is Getting Bigger. That Does Not Necessarily Mean It Is Becoming More Powerful.
BRICS decided this week to invite six additional countries into the organisation. Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to join Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa…
