The Fellowship of the Payments: Europe’s Journey Beyond the Two Towers
For decades, Visa and Mastercard have dominated Europe’s payment rails. Efficient — yes. Strategically neutral? Not so much.
Why China Cannot be Europe’s Alternative to the US
Europe risks trading one dependency for another if it treats China as a shortcut to economic security amid U.S. trade uncertainty.
From Normative Power to Geopolitical Actor: The EU’s Strategic Shift on Syria
More than a decade after imposing sweeping sanctions on Syria, the European Union is recalibrating its approach. The easing of economic restrictions and the launch of reconstruction aid mark not only a policy shift, but a test of whether Brussels can evolve from a purely normative power into a strategic geopolitical actor.
Beyond Fabs: The Czech Republic’s Supply-Chain Role in Europe’s Chip Race
The EU Chips Act seeks to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem and reach a 20% global market share by 2030. The Chips Act 2.0 is a chance to address its shortcomings.
The Mechanics of the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal: Europe’s Push to Shift the Global Order
The EU–Mercosur trade deal has become a test of whether Europe can turn geopolitical pressure into diversification, resilience and renewed multilateral ambition.
Haven’t You Heard? Taxing Cryptocurrencies Is the New Thing!
The old vision of Bitcoin replacing traditional money is losing ground as governments move to tax and regulate crypto like any other asset.
Eco-Fatigue: Why Green Messaging Is Losing Its Appeal
After years of hype, sustainability messaging is starting to wear thin. In a world of rising geopolitical tensions, soaring energy prices, growing economic uncertainty, and chronic greenwashing, eco-friendly-ness is losing its prestige.
The EU’s Digital Euro Is Drowning in the Global Stablecoin Wave
The window for the digital euro is closing. If the EU fails to accelerate its timeline, alternative private digital payment systems from the US threaten to render the project obsolete before it even launches.
Outsiders at Home: Cultural Repression and the Politics of Visibility in Russia
How Putin’s repression forced creators into exile and why youth continue to resist.
Sudan: The Make-or-Break Test for a Human Rights-Based International Order
Sudan is a stress-test of whether human rights will remain a principle in the new emerging international order.
Saving Climate Diplomacy From the Consensus and Legitimacy Traps
COP-30 has exposed a climate regime that is no longer merely slow—it is fundamentally unable to act and deliver solutions.
Transfer Mispricing: How Multinational Enterprises Shift Profits into Losses for Africa
How do multinational enterprises use transfer mispricing to shift profits abroad, depriving African countries of vital tax revenues?
