April 5, 2016
What is the connection between the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels and the huge size of the tax-avoidance industry, as illustrated by the recent publication of the “Panama Papers” ? On a superficial level, none. In actual fact, the exponential proliferation of illegal activities – the drug and arms trade, the rapid multiplication of… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
March 14, 2016
The EU’s macroeconomic indicators for 2015 – the growth rate standing at 0.3 percent, the inflation rate at 0.2 percent – paint the picture of a continent severely affected by what economists call “secular stagnation“. Secular stagnation is afflicting not only the EU but also Japan, and in the years ahead it will most probably… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, E.U. |
February 1, 2016
The biggest refugee crisis in Europe since WWII looks set to get worse in 2016. The country most responsible for the huge inflow of migrants from the Middle East is, as we all know, Germany. What is less well-documented is the fact that its state apparatus simply cannot cope anymore. Chancellor Angela Merkel is quick… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, E.U. |
January 4, 2016
At the beginning of the year, it has become customary for ‘pundits’ to make predictions about forthcoming developments which might affect the global economy, elections in leading countries or international relations. From my part, I would like to take my readers back in time, in an attempt to make today’s armed conflicts around the world… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
December 3, 2015
The untrained observer could be forgiven for believing that NATO is still acting as a military and political organization dedicated to protecting the security of its members. Enlarging the organization with a less-than-significant member (militarily speaking) like Montenegro cannot, however, obscure NATO’s huge failure to adapt to today’s radically changed geopolitical and strategic landscape. Headed… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
November 27, 2015
The downing of a Russian jet over Syria by the Turkish military brings to a sad conclusion a hitherto promising international relations agenda, whose author was none other than Ahmet Davutoglu, the current Turkish prime minister. Only a few years ago, Davutoglu as Turkey’s foreign minister advanced a “zero problems with the neighbours” diplomatic agenda.… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
November 22, 2015
The wave of blowback terrorism currently sweeping Western European capitals is likely to obscure a major event due to take place on November 24th and 25th in China: I am referring to the annual meeting of the leaders of 16 Central and Eastern European countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia,… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, Balkans, China, E.U., geo-economics, geoeconomics, Russia |
November 6, 2015
The fact that the EU is undergoing its most profound existential crisis ever is by now an open secret. The Greek debt crisis had produced a North-South divide in Europe, whereas the migrant crisis has prompted a rebellion against the EU leadership from Eastern bloc members. Nowadays, NATO itself is contributing to the existing divisions… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
October 25, 2015
The recent flurry of diplomatic activity by EU leaders who are trying to slow down the migrant influx has not as yet yielded any tangible results. In truth, the situation has become so complicated that there are no good moves left in order to stabilize it. To illustrate this, one should consider the results… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
October 12, 2015
Saturday’s horrific terrorist attack in Ankara where more than 100 people lost their lives brings to mind similar gruesome deeds, from New York in 2001 or London in 2007. The similarities between these events, unfortunately, end with the casualties. In Turkey, the opposition -in a rather desperate bid to thwart Erdogan’s party’s re-election chances- took… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
