Articles

Ten trends for 2013

2012 saw continuing crisis in the eurozone, growing Euroscepticism and populism in some corners of Europe, faltering transitions in Egypt and elsewhere, more violence in Syria, a new leadership in China, and both Putin II and Obama II. So what will 2013 hold?  

Bringing Turkey back to the EU debate

Shunned by the EU with membership talks effectively blocked, Turkey feels empowered. It is no longer on the European periphery, but at the centre of its own world.  

Democracy and Political Islam after the Arab revolutions

Islamists are in charge in Egypt and Tunisia because they were chosen by the voters in free elections; not because they won the battle for the streets. What is happening in the Arab countries is not an ideological revolution – it is a fight over the distribution of political power.  

Reinventing Europe: Portugal – integrate or be marginalised

As part of the ’Reinventing Europe' project, ECFR is publishing a series of papers on the national debates within EU member states over the crisis and the future direction of Europe. In the thirteenth of the series Teresa de Sousa and Carlos Gaspar analyse the situation in Portugal.  

Navigating Egypt’s political crisis

Understanding the contours of Egypt's most acute political crisis since President Hosni Mubarak was deposed two years ago.  

Vanished frontiers earn EU its Nobel Prize

Awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU has left many perplexed. However, the long “European civil war” that began in the 19th century should be enough to justify it.  

Reinventing Europe: Ireland – from interdependence to dependence

As part of the ’Reinventing Europe' project, ECFR is publishing a series of papers on the national debates within EU member states over the crisis and the future direction of Europe. In the twelfth of the series Brigid Laffan analyses the situation in Ireland.   

Putin’s visit rekindles the Russia-Turkey affair

Are Turkey and Russia still friends? Critics of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan are often heard fretting about “Putinization” in Turkey, but is the Russian leader a welcome guest in a country that is now the principal supporter of the Syrian opposition?  

The Palestine UN vote and Europe

European countries are split over recognising Palestine at the United Nations, but moving foward, Daniel Levy offers seven points to takeaway from a European perspective.