July 10, 2020
First, as a responsible major country, China stands upright with honour. We never strong-arm others, never seek supremacy, never withdraw from commitments, never bully others, and never complain. The word ‘coercion’ has nothing to do with China. — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, October 2019 If anyone cares to listen to the Chinese Foreign… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
June 1, 2020
“Fascism combats the whole complex system of democratic ideology, and repudiates it, whether in its theoretical premises or in its practical application. Fascism denies that the majority, by the simple fact that it is a majority, can direct human society” (Benito Mussolini speech in 1932, “What is Fascism ?”) Mike Pompeo’s latest declaration… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
May 20, 2020
This week’s World Health Assembly videoconference did nothing but provide an opportunity for China to take center stage in the debate about the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and for the United States to be paraded as the villain of the piece. As matters now stand, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the proposed “review”… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
May 9, 2020
European diplomatic traditions, which are some of the most illustrious in the world, have not prevented the External Action Service from writing one of the most inept letters I have ever read. After months of China’s diplomatic bullying, aimed at changing the pandemic narrative in its favour, is this ill-conceived message addressed to the Chinese… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
March 31, 2020
“The geography of infectious disease is important because, as living organisms, pathogens—that is, the bacteria, viruses, and other microparasitic entities that cause disease—all have histories linked to time and place. Every widely distributed disease originated as a local outbreak.” (Monica H. Green, “Climate and Diseases in Medieval Eurasia”, 2018) One of the most… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
February 23, 2020
A few years ago Xi, China’s communist dictator, has toured Belgian universities. On that occasion, he tried to persuade Belgium’s would-be experts and intellectuals that in China no other political system has ever worked except the one he was embodying, at home and abroad. By using such blatant lies, Xi’s aim is to shore up… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
January 25, 2020
The sudden outbreak of the coronavirus is only the latest misfortune to affect the current Chinese leadership. The other two – continuous unrest in Hong Kong and the electoral victory of the anti-Beijing presidential candidate in Taiwan – have been substantial upsets for Beijing. Truth be told, the outside world had invested in China’s emerging… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
|
, China |
June 17, 2018
The change of government in Italy calls into question the German leadership of the European Union, which was myopic at best. Italy has never benefited from the introduction of the euro. Its GDP per capita after the introduction of the common currency has stagnated. German-imposed austerity measures and the lack of solidarity among member countries… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
February 22, 2018
When the AKP Islamic Party came to power in Turkey at the turn of the century, the event was saluted by many specialists as a victory for political Islam. For an entire decade, Turkey became a model of Islamic democracy envied by many in the Arab world. The 2011 revolutions were ignited by the hope… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
|
, E.U., Greece, Middle East, NATO, Turkey |
September 10, 2017
The current North Korean threat highlights one of the most troubling shortcomings facing today’s Western governments : the almost total inability of diplomacy to help solve such crises. For thousands of years, various states in different periods of history have nurtured the development of a special class of bureaucrats, employed exclusively in the diplomatic service.… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
