The multiple crises that Europe is currently faced with provide plenty of opportunities for Germany to lead the way on crucial policy issues rather than wait to be pushed.
One, the socioeconomic agenda may stage a comeback. There is certainly a limit to identity politics, when it does not deliver or when it results in more poverty.
Zeitenwende has since morphed into a catch-all term and shorthand jargon for analysts inside and outside Germany to describe whatever policy change they want to see from Berlin. This goes beyond Berlin’s response to the Russian invasion to now include a more assertive German China policy.
Putin has managed to persuade a large section of Russians that the “special operation” of 2022 is a natural continuation of World War II. In essence, it is an existential war between the Russian civilization and the West.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be a record-breaking affair. The tournament is poised to be the most-watched and highest-grossing sporting event of all time.
So far, Putin has seen none of his fondest dreams—Ukraine being overwhelmed by Russia, neutral countries distancing themselves from NATO, Eastern Europe becoming less democratic—come to fruition.
Many eyes will be on Iran’s side in the World Cup, but conflating it with the regime would be a mistake.
Putin’s immersion in the “masses” is becoming dangerous. His vocabulary and behavior are growing increasingly marginal, and the communication style of other high-ranking officials will in turn inevitably become marginalized too.
Please join Andrew S. Weiss and veteran journalist Julia Ioffe for an engaging discussion of Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin.
Turkey’s upcoming elections will be the greatest ever challenge to the twenty-year dominance of the AK Party. Representatives of the country’s opposition parties share their perspectives and priorities on Turkey’s most pressing foreign policy questions.