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Resistance, resilience, recovery: Ukraine’s civil society in wartime

Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine’s civil society has grown into one of the most vibrant and resilient in the region, playing a central role in

September 27, 2025 - Liza Bezvershenko

Georgian civil society forced into survival mode

After decades of striving for independence and democratic reform, Georgia is now facing a reversal towards authoritarianism. The ruling Georgian Dream party,

September 27, 2025 - Nino Lezhava

Can Belarusian civil society survive and even pose a threat to the dictatorship?

Since August 2020, Belarusian civil society has been experiencing a crackdown from the Alyaksandr Lukashenka regime that has been unprecedented in the 21st

September 27, 2025 - Zmicier Mickievič

Democracy in Moldova: can civil society deliver?

Moldova is still navigating a complex path towards democratization, shaped by political instability, economic hardship, and institutional fragility. In this

September 27, 2025 - Alexandru Fordea

Strengthening the civil society’s resilience in Serbia

Despite growing authoritarianism and a shrinking civic space in Serbia, civil society has demonstrated remarkable resilience through grassroots environmental

September 27, 2025 - Sofija Popović

Civil society in Armenia: from peak to decline in advocacy

Faced with rising populism, polarization, socio-economic challenges, and mounting geopolitical pressure, Armenia’s civil society remains one of the key

September 27, 2025 - Arshaluis Mgdesyan

Silenced by law: how Azerbaijan uses legislation to crush dissent

Despite early efforts towards civil society formation following independence, serious setbacks have been observed in Azerbaijan in recent decades.

September 27, 2025 - Zumrud Pashayeva

Russia’s long game in Africa and Latin America

It began with bananas and Soviet-era weapons. In early 2024, Ecuador tried to offload its ageing Russian arms stockpile to the United States, which intended

September 27, 2025 - Alice Volfson

Russian cultural diplomacy in Germany: between promoting Russia and undermining Ukraine

A number of facts testify to Russia’s destructive influence abroad through disinformation or direct interference in the domestic politics of countries,

September 27, 2025 - Maria Protsiuk

Italy and Russia: a never-ending love story

In Italy, public scepticism about Russia’s war in Ukraine has grown, with recent polls showing declining support for Kyiv and rising neutrality. Some political figures, from both the right and the left, have tapped into this sentiment, highlighting its broad appeal across the spectrum. Understanding this trend requires looking at Italy’s unique political history, including the enduring legacy of its communist party during the Cold War.

September 27, 2025 - Aleksej Tilman

Europe’s heavy cost of dependency

While the European Union is developing plans to finally and completely cut itself off from Russian oil and gas supplies, the solutions it has found are less than ideal. This illustrates the challenge that Europe faces in overcoming its dependency on Russia, while at the same time not giving in to massive fossil fuel development. To make matters worse, Europe cannot escape the geopolitical dimension of fossil fuels.

September 27, 2025 - Raze Baziani

The disfigured spectrum: how post-communist legacies distort conservatism and democracy

Under one-party rule, political legitimacy does not come from adhering to constitutional limits but from exercising unchallenged authority in the name of the “correct” cause – once framed as ideological duty, now justified as cultural defence or popular sovereignty. The ingrained habit of bending institutions to political will, rather than letting them operate autonomously, was embedded in political culture over decades and passed on to the post-1989 elite, many of whom now lead ostensibly democratic states.

September 27, 2025 - Adam Reichardt

Trump’s “Reverse Kissinger” is wishful thinking

More than six months into his second term, US President Donald Trump has shown a willingness to revive an old geopolitical fantasy: that the United States can pry Russia away from China in a modern-day reprise of Kissinger’s Cold War diplomacy. Yet unlike in the 1970s, today’s Moscow and Beijing are bound by converging strategic interests, mutual dependence, and a shared hostility toward western dominance.

September 27, 2025 - Lucinda Ritchie

The EU-US policy divide over Belarus

As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds on with little movement towards President Donald Trump’s pledged “24-hour resolution”, other arenas have gained momentum in his second-term foreign policy. Amid this dynamic context, Minsk has recently surfaced as a new, previously untapped, yet demonstrably successful venue for his deal-making agenda – and a potential strategic lever in Washington’s efforts to shake up the war next door.

September 27, 2025 - Vitali Matyshau

Neither Kaczyński, nor Tusk. Who gets the vote of the Polish youth?

An interview with Paweł Marczewski, sociologist and head of research at the ideaForum at the Batory Foundation. Interviewer: Iwona Reichardt

September 26, 2025 - Iwona Reichardt Paweł Marczewski

When values were trampled on, Austria was never neutral

An interview with Alexander Schallenberg, former Austrian minister of foreign affairs and acting Chancellor. Interviewer: Aureliusz M. Pędziwol

September 26, 2025 - Alexander Schallenberg Aureliusz M. Pędziwol

Hospitality in practice: how does Estonia support Ukrainian refugees?

Estonia has been supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians significantly over the last three years since the full-scale invasion. Even though it was a challenge to receive a significant number of Ukrainian refugees at such a quick pace, the small country of Estonia managed to establish a specific approach to integration.

September 26, 2025 - Nino Chanadiri

Russian mall shutdown sparks uproar and confusion

Yekaterinburg’s largest shopping mall was suddenly closed on June 27th. Greenwich, which stands proud in the city centre, is Yekaterinburg’s answer to Moscow’s Okhotny Ryad or Afi Mall. Opened in 2004, Greenwich has routinely been listed as one of Russia’s best shopping malls and entertainment facilities. Why, then, was it shut down so suddenly without so much as a whisper from commentators crying wolf?

September 26, 2025 - James C. Pearce

Belarusian folklore as a language of expression during repressions

Throughout history, Belarusians have turned to their rich folklore traditions in times of repression. What may appear as a period of cultural stagnation is, in fact, often a moment of resilience and creative revival. The current wave of repression is no exception – once again, Belarusian culture is finding ways to endure.

September 26, 2025 - Maria Badzei

Gdańsk’s heritage and reconstruction after the war

After the Second World War, Gdańsk was fully integrated into Poland. Subsequently, the population dynamic of the city changed – many German residents fled or were expelled, and were replaced by Poles, who came especially from areas lost to the Soviets in the former eastern lands. With new rulers and a new populace in place, a question arose – what to do about the ruined city?

September 26, 2025 - Błażej Kowacz

Built with doubt and worry: NATO in the second Trump presidency

Declaring that NATO is on the cusp of dying is premature. It is far from moribund. However, while the Alliance will likely persist, this does not mean that it has a clean slate of health.

September 26, 2025 - Alexander Lanoszka

NATO during the second Trump administration: Actions speak louder than words

Many recent assessments of US foreign policy suggest that the second presidential term of Donald Trump is having a disruptive and potentially destructive impact on transatlantic relations. This is particularly the case regarding NATO’s future and the American commitment to European security. However, fears that the administration will renege on the US commitment to European security and NATO are simply misplaced.

September 26, 2025 - Luca Ratti

When European security meets reality

Russia’s full-scale military invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory has flagrantly violated the fragile post-Cold War security ecosystem shaped by the transatlantic community. The intricate structure of European security requires bold and decisive action to establish an effective and credible mechanism of deterrence and response. Such a mechanism must rest upon a multi-level construction of the transatlantic security community.

September 26, 2025 - Artur Gruszczak

NATO in times of crisis. Safeguarding the future of the Euro-Atlantic Alliance

At its 2025 summit in The Hague, NATO confronted a pivotal moment, agreeing on a historic pledge to spend five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035. The decision was welcomed by US President Donald Trump and signalled unity. However, it also exposed deep undercurrents of challenges facing the Alliance.

September 26, 2025 - Wojciech Michnik

Not all quiet on the Southern Flank

The 2025 NATO summit in The Hague marked a strategic turning point for European and Mediterranean security, compelling Allies to commit to a substantial increase in defence investment. This renewed focus is not solely about countering Russia on the Eastern Flank. It should also provide fresh resources to address enduring vulnerabilities and asymmetries across the South.

September 26, 2025 - Michele Testoni

Beyond nuclear gradualism: pathways for NATO to enhance deterrence

NATO faces an increasingly complex security environment, marked by Russia's advanced missile capabilities and persistent coercive strategies. How can the Alliance adapt its deterrence posture, integrating both nuclear and conventional means, to remain credible and unified in an era of significant geopolitical flux and evolving strategic stability concepts?

September 26, 2025 - Alessandro Leonardi

Beyond compromise: towards the Europeanization of NATO’s Eastern Flank

NATO’s post-Cold War enlargement promised a stable and prosperous future for Central and Eastern Europe. Yet compromises meant to accommodate Russia left the Alliance’s Eastern Flank exposed for years. Today, with renewed uncertainty in transatlantic politics, European allies face the challenge of strengthening deterrence without relying too heavily on the United States.

September 25, 2025 - Eoin Micheál McNamara

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