Politics
Nobody Says They Want a Regional War. That Does Not Mean the Region Cannot End Up in One.
The war that began in Gaza three months ago is increasingly becoming a regional system of interconnected confrontations. Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri was killed in Beirut on Tuesday, in an explosion widely attributed…
The Houthis Cannot Control Global Trade. They Have Discovered They Do Not Need To.
A conflict that began in Gaza is increasingly affecting container ships thousands of kilometres away. Yemen’s Houthi movement has launched missiles and drones towards commercial vessels travelling through the Red Sea and has seized at…
Europe Has Finally Agreed on a New Migration System. The Hard Part Is Making Borders Both Controlled and Humane.
After years of arguments that repeatedly divided northern and southern Europe, eastern and western Europe, governments and human-rights organisations, the European Union reached a political agreement this week on a major overhaul of its migration…
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.
Milei Says Argentina Has No Alternative to Economic Shock. The Real Question Is Who Absorbs It.
Javier Milei became president of Argentina today, completing an extraordinary transformation from television economist to congressman to head of state in only a few years. His inaugural address was strikingly different from the optimism normally…
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…
Israel Has a Right to Defend Itself. That Does Not Mean Every Method of Defence Is Automatically Justified.
Israel expanded its ground operations inside Gaza this weekend, three weeks after Hamas launched the deadliest attack on Israelis in the country’s history. On 7 October, Hamas-led militants crossed from Gaza into southern Israel, attacking…
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…
