Angela Merkel and Germany’s political zeitgeist
Angela Merkel defines the political zeitgeist in Germany. But contrary to appearances, Germany is facing a period of difficult choices – independently of who takes office after the elections.
European Power
The EU’s silent revolution
The eurozone crisis has redrawn the institutional structure of the EU and intergovernmentalism has become a default mechanism to solve problems in an emergency – but that risks backfiring by exacerbating the democratic deficit and crumbling EU unity
The German miracle is running out of road
Ahead of federal elections, Germany is showing signs of complacency about its economic success, with none of the big candidates addressing the factors that might lead to German manufacturing losing its edge
Syria and the politicisation of British foreign policy
With the parliamentary rejection of a major foreign policy initiative, Britain has crossed a watershed in foreign policy making, but the question is not about whether the UK engages with the world. It is about how its foreign policy is made.
Eight things to consider before intervening in Syria
Before any Western intervention in the Syrian conflict, eight key issues need to be considered – from the goals of intervention and the legal issue to the regional impact and the possibility of a diplomatic alternative
Europe must recognise that Egypt is not moving to democracy
As Egypt appears to lurch back towards a pre-revolutionary security state, there's an urgent need for the EU to make a firm statement that the country is no longer moving towards a democratic future
Who will pick up the pieces in Egypt?
This week's violence in Egypt is a watershed moment in the country's recent history, heralding more political contestation that is likely to be both harsh and unbalanced in favour of the government
Egypt’s split society must have the courage to say “enough”
Events in Cairo on Monday will go down as a watershed moment in what is now likely to be decades of upheaval facing Egypt. Egyptian society must have the courage to say “enough.”
Why Britain should not view Germany as a role model for economic success
Germany's recent economic success has been much admired across Europe. But an examination of what Germany's model really entails suggest it is not necessarily something Britain should copy as it searches for success of its own.
The NSA and Snowden: the boomerang flies on
Edward Snowden may become the most famous civil rights case this century, and throw up issues of data protection, intelligence, and the relationship between partners and allies that concern citizens of all free states