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China is known for many things, including its rapid modernization, advanced technology sector, and its role as a global manufacturing and export powerhouse. In fact, much of the consumer goods we use every day are labelled “Made in China.” Politically, China is a one-party state led by the Chinese Communist Party, with Xi Jinping serving as its top leader since 2012. His leadership has been marked by a strong centralization of authority. At the same time, China has faced significant international scrutiny over human rights concerns, including widely reported allegations of abuses affecting its Uyghur Muslim population in the Xinjiang region. This week, I want to focus on the situation faced by these communities, whose daily lives are heavily shaped by government policies and restrictions that have drawn concern from human rights organizations around the world.   WHO ARE THE UYGHUR MUSLIMS? Certainly. For a blog post, it often works best to introduce the Uyghurs before discussing th...

As the European Union faces growing geopolitical challenges and renewed interest from countries seeking membership, policymakers have begun exploring alternative approaches to enlargement. One proposal gaining increasing attention is a two-tier membership model, often referred to as "staged accession" or a form of "lite membership." Rather than requiring candidate countries to complete the lengthy and demanding accession process before benefiting from European integration, this model would allow them to participate in selected EU policies, programs, and institutions while continuing to implement the reforms necessary for full membership. In this blog post, we will examine how this model works, why it has attracted support, and the potential advantages and drawbacks it could bring for both the EU and aspiring member states. THE HISTORY OF EUROPEAN UNION ENLARGEMENT The European Union traces its origins to the aftermath of the Second World War, when European leaders...

In the past few months, Ukrainian forces have pushed Russian troops back in several areas while grinding Russia’s offensives to a halt across much of the front. At the same time, Moscow continues to burn through staggering amounts of manpower, losing thousands of soldiers every month in exchange for minimal gains. Ukrainian drones are also striking deeper inside Russia with increasing frequency, hammering oil refineries, ammunition depots, and critical infrastructure. This includes targets hundreds of kilometers from the battlefield. Yet despite the mounting losses, recruitment shortages, and growing economic pressure, the Kremlin still refuses to seriously pursue a peace deal or even agree to a ceasefire. In this week’s post, I want to explore what happens if Putin starts to feel cornered. There are several scenarios already being discussed behind the scenes. Some are more dangerous than others. We will look at a few of them, and the possible consequences if they become reality. OVERA...

Warfare has changed dramatically over time. In World War I, tanks were introduced and soldiers relied heavily on trenches and artillery. In World War II, aircraft, missiles, and nuclear weapons transformed the battlefield. Today, warfare increasingly involves drones, robotics, cyber systems, and artificial intelligence. In this blog post, we will look at the ethical questions surrounding robots and artificial intelligence in modern warfare, especially as these technologies become more capable of making decisions that affect human lives. DRONES AND ROBOTS We have already discussed at length how drones have changed the front lines in Ukraine. When the war began in 2022, fighting mostly involved tanks, trenches, artillery, and missile strikes. Over time, however, drones became one of the most important tools on the battlefield. Today, both Russia and Ukraine use aerial drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, and attacks. Civilian areas far from the front lines have also become vulnerable...

This week, it's really hard to think what topic to write about. The world right now is constantly changing around us, and attention is being drawn away from the war in Ukraine. What's going on in Iran, the price of oil, the rising cost of living, and the situation with China are grabbing people's attention. In this week's blog, let's focus on Ukraine because it's still necessary to look at the war and what's going on there. SITUATION IN EUROPE The situation in Ukraine has not changed very much, so I won't be focusing on that today. The front line situation is slightly improving in Ukraine's favor. They are pushing back the Russians, but not by much. For Victory Day, there was an exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side. However, drones and missiles keep hitting Ukrainian cities every single night. People are dying: civilians, children, and the elderly. Europe's situation is now different, so let's focus on that. Why the European situation has...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...