We’ve reviewed what the experts say about populism. Not all of it is applicable in every situation, nor does every populist movement encompass the exact same characteristics. Nonetheless, populism remains dormant and, to the extent that it denotes a breakdown in the liberal democratic model, it isn’t likely to disappear any time soon. It could […]
Populisms (II): Characteristics
What are the salient characteristics of populism? There’s disagreement on this point, since it can be studied from so many different angles. Nonetheless, we can define it in broad terms: The fundamental analysis revolves around two categories: “normal folk” versus “the elite,” which will have its own nomenclature in every country. “We” are the people […]
Populisms (I): The Root Causes
Every continent has its share of populist movements, both right-wing and left-wing, but only some actually reach a critical mass of power, while others remain on the sidelines. The term “populist” is frequently used as a political weapon to show disdain for a policy, even when it doesn’t quite fit the definition. This is because […]
PODCAST | Brexit: Theresa May Just Be What Britain Needs
With the appointment of the UK’s second female prime minister, are we likely to see a smoother Brexit process?
PODCAST | The Migration Crisis: Is Europe at Breaking Point?
Europe has a backlog of more than one million migrants – refugees fleeing war in the Middle East. But events in Germany at the start of the year, following Angela Merkel’s decision to relax migration regulation reveal that the problem is not just the scale and volume of migrants – it is also about integration […]
Leaders “Made in Germany”: Merkel’s Pawns in the EU
Germany and its chancellor, Angela Merkel, are going through some serious tribulations, such as: the mass arrival of immigrants from the Middle East; the ordeal with Volkswagen just as it was about to surpass Toyota to become the world’s leading car manufacturer; the major impact of the slowdown in China’s economic growth on its industrial […]
EU and Immigration (II): Demographic Decline
In the previous post we analyzed the consequences of the massive wave of immigrants who have come to Europe in recent weeks, mainly fleeing the civil war in Syria. Europe has a moral duty to accept them and Germany is leading the process despite the differences that exist between the various member states. But there […]
EU and Immigration (I): Why is it So Hard to Decide?
The immigration crisis seen in recent months, which has blown up over the past several weeks, is causing Europe to look at itself in the mirror. How should it be managed? How can hundreds of thousands of people from other cultures be integrated? It is worth reflecting on why the European Union (EU) must urgently […]