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Europe

Last week, the UK Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the legality of the government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. The ill-conceived scheme, which is based in large part on a Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Rwanda, was unanimously held to be unlawful. Though the scheme has failed, at least for now, it remains a hinge around which right-wing populist forces seek to build momentum for their policy platform.

International Affairs
Karl Schwarzenberg passes away
“An extraordinary European, an extraordinary man”
Hans Rauscher 16 November 2023

Former Czech Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg passed away last week. In this obituary, translated into English for Reset DOC, highlights the European statesman’s many achievements and important contributions to the Continent’s political thought and evolution from the end of the Cold War.
Human Rights, Society
Habermas on Israel: a Principle of Solidarity
Research Center Normative Orders 15 November 2023

Israel’s actions in no way justify anti-Semitic reactions, especially not in Germany. It is intolerable that Jews in Germany are once again exposed to threats to life and limb and have to fear physical violence on the streets. The democratic ethos of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is orientated towards the obligation to respect human dignity, is linked to a political culture for which Jewish life and Israel’s right to exist are central elements worthy of special protection in light of the mass crimes of the Nazi era.
International Affairs
The European Far-right is Deflating: Time to Shift the Focus?
Balša Lubarda 6 November 2023

Today, the headlines warn us of the “rising far right” and the “increasing influence of the far right on contemporary politics.” Indeed, the far right has been effectively mainstreamed as a set of talking points operating in the contemporary debates on politics and society. Proof is to be found virtually on a daily basis across different political and geographical contexts, ingrained in the statements and policies of the (presumed) center-right but even the left.
International Affairs
One in, One Out: Poland Sheds its Populist Coat
Fabio Turco 20 October 2023

Poland has undergone a significant political shift, as populist-driven governance yields to a democratic left majority. Mass protests, catalyzed by a controversial abortion law change, played a crucial role in this transformation, igniting participation among young voters. The election’s outcome also signifies Poland’s choice to reconcile with the European Union, bringing challenges like restoring the rule of law and securing vital EU funds. Cohesion among the diverse opposition is crucial to sustaining change. While Poland embarks on this new path, neighboring Slovakia witnesses a populist resurgence with Robert Fico’s victory, raising concerns about foreign policy and immigration.
International Affairs
Slovakia’s Critical Crossroads: Elections, Populism, and Geopolitical Shifts
Fabio Turco 24 September 2023

All eyes may be on the October 15 elections in Poland, but the September 30 elections in Slovakia are no less important for the region. Despite its small size, over the past year and a half Slovakia has gained relevance due to its committed support to Ukraine in its war against Russia. At the same time, the country has spent years seeking internal harmony and governability in the face of great political instability. It has been subjected to the impetuous winds of populism, and these might finally bring about a radical alteration in its geopolitical course.
Philosophy
Kenneth White’s Geopoetics: Rethinking Being, Earth, and Politics
Mohammed Hashas 22 September 2023
Migrations
How Ukraine Accession to the EU would Benefit Refugees
Samantha Libraty 15 September 2023

Without the necessary investments in refugees, the EU will have a long-term aid problem, especially by hosting with no future working opportunities
International Affairs
The Return of Poland’s Anti-Government Opposition
Fabio Turco 19 June 2023

On June 4th almost half a million peopled gathered throughout Poland in defense of democracy, to protest a recent law passed by President Andrzej Duda approved, which permits parliament to establish a commission in investigate electoral integrity with sweeping powers that could imperil political opposition.
A Lesson of Pluralism from Empires Against Putin’s Nationalism
Giancarlo Bosetti 18 May 2023

Empires are generally pluralistic, multicultural, while the nation-states that follow generally desire uniformity, and are often more intolerant and tend to suppress or even dismiss differences. This is Pieter Judson’s thesis, analysed in our article.