Europe adrift
Brexit is a symptom of the European Union’s internal disarray. In quick succession, the debt crisis, the Ukraine crisis and the migration crisis all challenged centralist visions of ever-deeper integration and soft-power expansion. The political mainstream’s abandonment of traditional values spurred a voter revolt toward populist movements. This turn inward comes as the rules-based order the EU embodies is coming apart globally.
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GIS Essay: A governance tip from the Republic of Venice
Politics have become increasingly dysfunctional in Western democracies. As public debate degenerates into warfare, citizens’ faith in the system wanes. Much of the blame is rightly put on the doorstep of political parties, but can they be fixed? The most enduring republic in Europe’s history offers surprising insight.
Italy’s Covid crisis plan: More government intervention
In the Covid-19 crisis, the Italian government sees an opportunity to address the country's long-standing economic ills. Its plan has been to renationalize businesses and use EU funds to boost spending. But as government involvement in the economy increases, foreign investment is being discouraged and private businesses crowded out.
Europe’s risky recovery funds
Europe is responding to the Covid-19 crisis with gigantic spending programs meant to shore up struggling economies. While financial support makes sense, the EU's history of doling out funds shows these initiatives often lead to fraud, corruption and market distortion. Recent reforms may not be enough to prevent a repeat ...
Austria and Visegrad: Interests converge in Central Europe
The Visegrad Group, consisting of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, initially had little political significance. But with pressure from EU institutions and other member states increasing, the forum has grown in significance. And though it originally wanted to exclude Austria, recently Vienna has found much in common with ...
ECB: Pushing banks too far?
After the last economic crisis, the European Central Bank put in place strict rules to ensure banks were in a strong financial position. Now, to counter the pandemic's effects, authorities are pushing banks to take more risks in lending to households and businesses. But banks see a rough road ahead, ...
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More Disruptions
Expanding state
A trend toward increased government influence in economies and personal life is curbing growth, and freedom, in many Western countries. The outsized role of government results in misplaced incentives, overregulation – which restrains markets and competition – and irresponsible budgetary ...
Middle East politics
The region, one of the cradles of civilization, is going through a turbulent period of historic realignment. Its powers are vying for political, military, economic and religious dominance with local players and outside actors. Armed conflicts, mainly civil wars, are ...
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