Poland’s Rule Under PiS and the Usefulness of ‘Illiberalism’ as an Academic Concept
How does the rise of ‘illiberalism’ in Poland challenge the concept’s usefulness in political analysis?
Wilders to Trump: The Dutch and US Populist Approaches to the Ukrainian Conflict
The United States and the Netherlands, both key Western allies, have played significant roles in supporting Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. As the U.S. recalibrates its stance on Ukraine—debating military aid, economic support, and long-term strategic commitments—populist movements on both sides of the Atlantic are influencing the conversation.
The Influential Role of the Judiciary in the Democratic Process: A Delicate Balance
Do judges and courts of Western democracies represent an obstacle to popular will?
The Beginning of the End? Hungary’s Reshaped Political Landscape and Economic Crisis
The unfolding crises in Orbán’s Hungary: a crumbling economy, political scandals and the swift rise of the opposition.
From Protector to Bystander: Understanding France’s Declining Influence in Lebanon
In recent years, Lebanon has spiraled into crisis, marked by political instability, economic collapse, and regional tensions. Once a cornerstone of French influence in the Middle East, Lebanon now stands at a crossroads. How did France, the former protectorate power that shaped Lebanon’ s modern governance, become a mere observer?
Precedent-setter or Pawn? The Chinese-Lithuanian Dispute Over Taiwan’s Representative Office
Course: China’s Ambitions in the 21st Century (University of Amsterdam)
Poland’s Security Priority and Its Implications for the Netherlands
Poland began its presidency of the Council of the European Union in January with inter-EU tensions in the horizon and on the verge of Donald Trump entering his second term in office but what could this presidency mean for the Dutch nation?
The Geopolitical Fallout of Trump’s Arctic Ambitions: A Return to Greenland
In January 2025, President-elect Donald Trump reignited interest in acquiring Greenland, sparking opposition from EU leaders, Greenlandic officials, and analysts, while renewing debates on Arctic sovereignty, security, and geopolitics.
Finland’s Border Security Act: A Contentious Precedent in the EU?
Finland, the EU member state with the longest external border to Russia, recently passed legislation against instrumentalised migration, which has been widely criticised as violating international human rights. A closer look at this issue raises the question of whether it is part of a broader change in the EU’s migration and asylum policies and if it might act as a precedent for other EU member states.
The Undermining of Schoof is Bad for the Netherlands and its Position in Europe
How the Dutch government is being undermined by its own coalition partners and why this is bad for the Netherlands’ position in Europe
The Threat is Real: The Main Challenge of the Polish EU Presidency
In the lead-up to January 20th, when Donald J. Trump takes over as the 47th POTUS, some are seizing Biden’s final days to wrap up their affairs, while others are looking forward to the power shift, or just the contrary — bracing for impact
Filling the Niche: Orbán’s Political Opportunism in Light of Hungarian EU Presidency
With Hungary’s term at the Presidency coming to an end, we will analyze Hungary’s impactfulness, outline Viktor Orbán’s political proceedings and discuss how the future may look for the Hungarian PM, and if there is any value in being an outcast.
