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EDITOR'S CORNER: How Ukraine Became a Global Player

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The Ukraine war is no longer just a conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It has expanded far beyond Europe, reaching into the Middle East and even Africa. But how did this happen? The growing conflict involving Iran has pushed modern drone warfare directly onto NATO’s doorstep and into the strategic calculations of its allies. At the same time, global energy markets have become increasingly interconnected as instability around the Strait of Hormuz threatens one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. As a result, many countries are being forced to rely more heavily on energy supplies from the United States, China, and other regions outside the Middle East. This has also transformed Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russian oil refineries into something much larger than a regional military tactic. What began as an effort to weaken Russia’s war economy has evolved into a form of kinetic economic warfare with global consequences — affecting fuel prices, supply chains, and energy ...
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RUSSIA: Victory Day and Russian National Identity

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May 9 marks Russia’s Victory Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. It is one of the country’s most significant and emotional holidays, honouring Red Army sacrifices while also showcasing state power through parades and patriotic displays. For decades, the day has been used to emphasize unity and continuity, a narrative strengthened under Vladimir Putin by linking WWII’s legacy to present struggles. In 2026, however, the tone has shifted. The war in Ukraine, security concerns, and international isolation have reshaped the celebrations, blending remembrance of past victory with the pressures of an uncertain present. THE HISTORICAL ROOTS OF VICTORY DAY Victory Day stems from May 9th, 1945, when Nazi Germany formally surrendered to Soviet Forces. For the Soviet Union, this war was existential, and it had a big impact on the Soviet society. Entire cities were destroyed, millions of people died on the battlefield and in war camps, and the victory came at an enormous ...
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EDITOR'S CORNER: Is a New Cold War Already Here?

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It is hard to escape the fact that the world is being shaped by the great superpowers: Russia, China and America. Despite the European Union being a great economic power, or Africa a mighty continent filled with billions of people, they still don't influence geopolitics as much as the top three mighty countries. Even India, with its 1,47 billion people and expanding economy doesn't have half the clout that the other mighty countries have.  In this blog post, we have a look at a pertinent question for our time: is a new Cold War here? Will things escalate further?    WHAT DEFINED THE ORIGINAL COLD WAR? The Cold War was, at its core, a structured conflict. Two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, dominated a bipolar world. Their rivalry was not just geopolitical, but ideological: capitalism versus communism, liberal democracy versus centralized authoritarian rule. This competition played out across multiple dimensions. Proxy wars erupted in distant regions. ...
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EDITOR'S CORNER: Trump's Gaffe in Iran

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Trump's special military operation in Iran has now been going on for almost two months. In this time, not much has been achieved. So what is America's plan with this war? In this week's blog post, I want to explore what is going on in Iran: what America's goals are, and how this conflict might end. THE WAR SO FAR Iran has been going through a very turbulent time over the past year. There were widespread protests, during which many people died. These protests were largely related to the economic situation in Iran. Many people felt that the regime did not support them. Young people in particular felt that they had no opportunities. Trump appears to have seen an opportunity to encourage these protests to grow. Alongside the unrest, he took the chance to launch attacks. Two months on, however, we still do not know exactly why. During the time the war has been going on, Ali Khamenei has been killed and replaced by his son. We have not seen the son publicly since the start of...
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UKRAINE: The War in Ukraine and the Occupied Areas

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This week, I want to take a closer look at the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the occupied territories. The situation in these areas remains deeply concerning, and it is important that we continue to talk about it. The war has now lasted for more than a decade since Russia’s initial intervention in 2014, and there is always a risk that people outside the region begin to look away. That must not happen. In this post, I will look at which areas are occupied, how civilians are reportedly being treated, and why the future of these regions remains central to any discussion of peace. UKRAINE’S OCCUPIED AREAS Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory. This includes most or all of Crimea, large parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and occupied areas in the south, including parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Cities such as Mariupol have also been under Russian control since earlier stages of the full-scale invasion. Life in th...
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Hungary: Is Democracy Making a Comeback?

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This weekend, Hungarians head to the polls in a pivotal election with far-reaching implications for Europe. Long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces a serious challenge, raising the possibility of a political turning point. Yet the stakes are high, and the outcome remains uncertain. In this week’s blog post, we ask: will voters opt for change and back the opposition leader, Péter Magyar, or will Orbán extend his 16-year grip on power? WHO IS PETER MAGYAR? Péter Magyar has spent the past two years on a relentless campaign that now culminates this weekend, positioning himself as the most serious challenger in years to Viktor Orbán. Born in 1981, Magyar grew up in a well-educated, middle-class family with strong ties to public service, an environment that exposed him early to law, governance, and national politics. He later studied law and economics at leading Hungarian institutions and gained international experience, building a technocratic profile grounded in constitutional think...
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EDITOR'S CORNER: Politics for Bandits and Global Disorder

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With the war in Iran entering its second month, and with renewed talk of Donald Trump ’s ambitions tied to Iran’s oil, we are forced to confront an uncomfortable question: what kind of world are we living in? What does it mean when the leader of the so-called free world appears willing to intervene in nation after nation, driven by access to resources and strategic gain? How might rival powers respond? Countries like Russia and China are always watching, carefully assessing every move made by the United States . And as the saying goes, what is good for one may soon be justified for others. In this week’s blog, I want to reflect on this reality. Is this the kind of world we want—one where power and profit outweigh principle? What has become of alliances, diplomacy, and the shared goal of promoting democracy? NO CLEAR AMBITI ONS IN IRAN Let’s take a closer look at the current state of the war in Iran. At the moment, the primary objective seems to be reopening the Strait of Hormuz...
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