Europe’s Far-Right Populists Are On The March Again – OpEd

Each time the tsunami of populism engulfing the Western world appears to have been discredited and defeated, a new wave of far-right victories compels liberal pundits to eat their words.

Scarcely a country in the democratic West has remained unscathed, as these radical hooligans scale the walls and seize the seats of national power. Now Sweden and Italy are their latest two scalps.

The Downside of Imperial Collapse   

When Empires or Great Powers Fall, Chaos and War Rise

Wars are historical hinges. And misbegotten wars, when serving as culmination points of more general national decline, can be fatal. This is particularly true for empires. The Habsburg empire, which ruled over central Europe for hundreds of years, might have lingered despite decades of decay were it not for its defeat in World War I. The same is true of the Ottoman Empire, which since the mid-nineteenth century was referred to as “the sick man of Europe.” As it happened, the Ottoman Empire, like the Habsburg one, might have struggled on for decades, and even re-formed, were it not for also being on the losing side in World War I.

Historic Far-right Victory in Italy Reflects Broader Movements in European Politics

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, is set to make history as Italy’s first female prime minister and as the leader of the most far-right government since the fascist era.

Against the backdrop of a surge in refugees and migrants arriving in Italy by sea, immigration policy has galvanized both the Brothers of Italy party and its electoral base.

Im Krisenmodus

Spät, hoffentlich nicht zu spät kommt ein beherzter Schritt gegen die rasant steigenden Energiepreise. Es wird Staatskunst brauchen, das Geld zielgenau einzusetzen. Der Leitartikel.

Die bittere Wahrheit ist: Wir stehen erst am Beginn eines heftigen Krisenwinters, der vor allem von Energieknappheit und steigenden Preisen gekennzeichnet sein wird. Darüber wölbt sich eine nicht überschaubare Sicherheitskrise für Europa, von der die Sabotage an den Gaspipelines nur der Auftakt gewesen sein könnte.

Ďalšie zlyhanie Romana Mikulca

Na ministerstve vnútra tuho spali. Včera zazvonil budíček. Česko obnovuje pre stúpajúcu nelegálnu migráciu kontroly na 27 bývalých hraničných priechodoch. Polícia spolu s vojakmi bude kontrolovať aj zelenú hranicu.

Putin’s Roulette

Sacrificing His Core Supporters in a Race Against Defeat

At least since Soviet times, Russians have used dark humor to cope with dictatorship. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilization has already been colloquially dubbed the mogilizatsia, a wordplay on mobilizatsia, the Russian word for “mobilization,” and mogila, the word for “grave.” What is more, in practice, this move-to-the-graveyard is proving to be far from partial. Despite assurances by Putin and his defense minister that the draft would be limited to 300,000 people, primarily military reservists who had already served in the army and in conflict zones, Russians have already witnessed the forced conscription of men of all ages across the country. The mobilization has turned out to be almost general.

Which Giorgia Meloni will Washington get?

Long a controversial figure both at home and abroad over her party’s direct lineage from Italy’s neo-fascist movement, Giorgia Meloni is now expected to become the country’s newest prime minister after her party secured the most votes in Sunday’s election. Her controversial views on migration, erstwhile fascination with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Russia, anti-LGBTQ stance, and open criticism toward the European Union (EU) have all contributed to her image as an unsavory right-wing politician.