Articles and Commentary - New Eastern Europe - A bimonthly news magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs

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Category: Articles and Commentary

Lukashenka’s crusade against the Roman Catholic Church

Ever since the anti-government protests of 2020, Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka has attempted to control all parts of society. This is even true regarding the local branch of the Catholic Church, whose members continue to criticise the regime.

February 6, 2023 - Camilla Gironi

A geopolitical balancing act

A new government has been sworn in in Israel under the re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. How will the new Israeli government position itself with regard to the Russian war in Ukraine?

February 1, 2023 - Svenja Petersen

Corruption is no longer a tenable dividing line between East and West

The arrest of MEP Eva Kaili over Qatar-linked bribery charges goes to show that kickbacks and shakedowns are just as brazenly entertained in Brussels as elsewhere in Europe.

January 30, 2023 - Saahil Menon

Germany’s robust indecisiveness or winking at Russia?

As Ukraine faces renewed Russian offensives in spring, Kyiv is more reliant than ever on its allies in the West. Despite this, Germany continues to avoid concrete decisions on providing weaponry. Berlin must now take decisive action if it is to remain the so-called unofficial leader of Europe.

January 25, 2023 - Tomasz Kamusella

A war of narratives: Russia’s disinformation abuses history

Putin has continued to promote a vivid narrative in defence of his decision to invade Ukraine. Focused on the Great Patriotic War against Nazism, this outlook promotes the idea that the current conflict is connected to such events. However, the influence of this narrative in Russia appears to be somewhat waning.

January 23, 2023 - Joshua Kroeker

Bosnians need to stare the beast in the eye

Debates over the events of the Bosnian War remain a contentious topic in modern Bosnia and Herzegovina. While competing narratives continue to divide society at an everyday level, the international community must take action to promote a shared future for the divided country.

January 19, 2023 - Leon Hartwell

Where have the Ukrainian oligarchs gone?

While the war in Ukraine continues, the country’s oligarchs have seemingly fallen off the radar. Often seen as an essential part of Ukraine’s political system, these powerful figures are now scrambling to save themselves and their assets in very unique circumstances.

January 17, 2023 - Serhiy Liamets

Russia: a Chinese colony?

The war in Ukraine has resulted in unprecedented sanctions being placed on Russia. Now confronted by a lack of access to traditionally lucrative markets in Europe, Moscow has turned to China to offset these issues. However, such a shift is naturally full of risks.

January 13, 2023 - Tomasz Kamusella

Ukraine’s schools are now under fire

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused damage well beyond the front line. This is especially clear in Ukraine’s schools, which are now poorly equipped to educate the country’s youth. New investment is needed to make sure today’s pupils do not become a lost generation.

January 11, 2023 - Maksym Korodenko

Where does Sunak stand on Ukraine?

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has attracted more controversy than his predecessors when it comes to Ukraine. Most renowned for his business credentials, the UK’s new leader has pursued a quieter approach to the conflict. However, does this reality amount to a simple change in style or a fundamental shift?

January 10, 2023 - Niall Gray

Poland should be a supportive partner towards Germany instead of a scoffer

The anti-European and anti-Teutonic phobias of the ruling party are perilous for Polish interests.

January 5, 2023 - Eugeniusz Smolar

“We have never been stronger”: A first-hand report from Ukraine

Now faced with fighting a war through a brutal winter, Ukraine should appear exhausted, weary and ready to give in. However, such a pessimistic view remains far from the truth. Speaking to people on the ground, it is clear that such suffering has only made the Ukrainians more determined to win.

January 3, 2023 - Joshua Kroeker

Partners

Issue 1-2/2022: Tug of war?

The situation with Russian threats towards Ukraine once again illustrates the high level of instability in our region.

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Issue 6/2021: The Road to Pax Caucasia

Only a year ago we witnessed the second Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It took at least 5,000 lives and significantly shifted the geopolitics in the South Caucuses.

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Issue 5/2021: Belarusians. One year in protest

This special issue aims to honour the plight of Belarusians whose democratic choice made in August 2020 was shamelessly snubbed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

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Issue 4/2021: Ukraine's Unfinished Story

From the social, economic and political points of view, a lot of work still remains for this country. And this is why Ukraine’s story is incomplete.

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Issue 3/2021: Tales from the Baltics

30 years after the fall of the Soviet Union

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Issue 1-2/2021: Whither Democracy?

And what lies ahead for our region...

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Issue 6/2020: Understanding Values in Uncertain Times

Our societies are more polarised than ever before, which makes them more susceptible to disinformation, untruth and conspiracy theories.

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Issue 5/2020: Juggling a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed limitations and weaknesses in nearly all countries around the world.

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issue 4/2020: The Kremlin's Hybrid War

The case of Georgia

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Issue 3/2020: The War in Donbas

Its costs, challenges and the commitment to peace.

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Issue 1-2/2020: Bound to Explode?

Uncertainty, volatility and the relationship between Russia and the West.

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Issue 6/2019: New (Old) Faces?

A true makeover or cosmetic change?

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Issue 5 2019: The Black Sea region

The Black Sea region is quickly becoming a geopolitical battleground which is gaining the interest of major powers, regional players and smaller countries – and the stakes are only getting higher.

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Issue 3-4/2019: Eastern Partnership turns 10

This issue is dedicated to the 10 year anniversary of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership as well as the 30 years since the 1989 revolutions in Central Europe.

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Issue 2 2019: Postmodern Geopolitics

The consequences of the emerging multipolar world.

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Issue 1 2019: Public intellecturals

This issue takes a special look at the role and responsibility of the public intellectual in Central and Eastern Europe today.

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Issue 6/2018: 1918. The year of independence

In the eastern parts of the European continent, 1918 is remembered not only as the end of the First World War, but also saw the emergence of newly-independent states and the rise of geopolitical struggles which are felt until this day.

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Issue 5/2018: What's new with Belarus?

It often seems, at least from the outside, that Belarus remains isolated from the West and very static in its transformation. Yet, despite its relative isolation, Belarus is indeed changing.

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Issue 3-4/2018: Para-states. Life beyond geopolitics

The Summer 2018 issue of New Eastern Europe tackles the complexity of para-states in the post-Soviet space.

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Issue 2/2018: The many faces of Putin

Vladimir Putin is set to win a fourth term as president of the Russian Federation. The March-April 2018 issue takes a deeper look at the consequences of Putin’s presidency and what could eventually come after…

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Issue 5 2017: Homo Post-Sovieticus

We cannot deny there is something idiosyncratic about the former Soviet bloc which links its societies together. Either through common experience or history (or both).

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Issue 3-4 2017: The Balkan Carousel

“The price of Europeanising the Balkans is much higher than the price of the Balkanisation of Europe,” claims Zagreb-based writer Miljenko Jergović in the opening essay to this issue of New Eastern Europe.

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