Belgium has a sad record. With some 450 jihadists, it is Europe’s largest contributor per capita of ISIS fighters in Syria. The country has also been mentioned in connection to a series of recent ISIS attacks: In May 2014, a returned jihadist from Syria opened fire at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. In January 2015, … Continue reading »
Europe
Why the rift between Eastern and Western Europe on the refugee crisis?
It has been hard not to notice in recent days the difference in attitude between European Union member states on solidarity towards the refugees crisis in Europe. Germany and Sweden have decided to show solidarity. Demonstrations in various European countries have shown a welcoming attitude towards the refugees from war zones in Syria and elsewhere. … Continue reading »
The road not taken: How the migrant crisis in Europe could have been ameliorated
I was visiting my family in Kent in southeast England. I rounded a bend and there was a queue of cars and trucks. Obviously an accident. I bumped over the median, read my map, and found another route. Another vehicle queue as far as I could see. Another accident? No. This was a tiny part of … Continue reading »
Depression’s advocates
Over at Project Syndicate: Depression’s Advocates: Back in the darker days of late 2008 and 2009, I had one line in my talks that sometimes got applause, usually got a laugh, and always made people more optimistic. Because the North Atlantic had lived through the 1930s, I would say “This time we will not make … Continue reading »
The humiliation of Greece and Tsipras’s fatal mistake
A large part of Europe is still shell-shocked by the “compromise” that was decided in the Sunday, July 12 Eurozone marathon. Without repeating the list of reforms imposed on Greece, they are much harsher than what had been negotiated weeks and months before, even harsher than anything imposed on Greece since the beginning of the crisis. … Continue reading »
Urgently needed: An international initiative on Greece
Do not hold your breath on Sunday’s deadline for credible Greek proposals to come up to unlock the Greek crisis. This is mostly a trap to accelerate Grexit. At best, it is a Pontius Pilates move by German Chancellor Angela Merkel — to wash herself of the responsibility of Greece spiraling into chaos. Let us … Continue reading »
After the Greek ‘NO’: Europe quo vadis?
Tsipras won the referendum, but where do we go from now? Most, if not all of my Greek friends, intellectuals I highly respect campaigned for the Yes. I understand many of their concerns. Greece was institutionally not ready to enter the Eurozone. Greece politics are dysfunctional and clientelistic — there has been fiscal irresponsibility, lack … Continue reading »
Misframing the Greek protest
The calls these days to support the Greek people’s struggle against austerity are in abundance. The Campaign for Democracy group has issued one such petition. I signed this petition, as I do support the Greek people’s fight for social justice and regaining some control of their destiny. But what a pity this is being framed … Continue reading »
European partnership could signal a new direction for renewable energy
President Francois Hollande of France announced a new renewable energy partnership between the French and German governments last week. The idea, modeled on the Airbus partnership, would expand cooperation between the governments on renewable energy projects. Airbus, which began in the 1960s, was formed as a joint partnership between primarily between French and German corporations, with Dutch … Continue reading »
How bad is ‘European’?
GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been, as have other GOP candidates, castigating President Obama for presumably wanting to “Europeanize” the United States. On January 6, 2012, for example, Romney asserted that the President was “dragging ‘the soul of America’ toward a ‘European-style welfare state’.” Romney and others have accused the President of loving America … Continue reading »
The end of the West’s duplicity in a transforming Middle East?
Post co-authored by Beverly Crawford and Nora Reikosky. Like the collective gasp of horror heard round the world on 9/11, we now hear a global sigh of relief at the news of Osama bin Laden’s demise. President Obama tells us that we can all breathe easier now. But can we? Will Osama’s death mark an end … Continue reading »