Politics

Austrians are proud of their identity as a neutral state. Neutrality is a core part of the country’s political identity and has served as one of the few topics with near-universal consensus following the country’s re-establishment after World War II. Such is the devotion to it, that it has been enshrined in Austria’s constitution as a commitment to “everlasting neutrality”. Yet, upon closer inspection of Vienna’s foreign policy conduct, it becomes overwhelmingly evident that, at least since its accession to the EU in 1995, Austrian neutrality is more fictional than based in reality.

Myanmar is one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world. According to UN Crisis Relief, 18.6 million people in Myanmar – one-third of the population – are in urgent need of humanitarian aid and protection support.

While conspiracy theories are not unique to the United States, their persistent presence in presidential elections raises important questions about political communication, public trust, media ecosystems, and the resilience of democracy.

Now that the Assad era in Syria is over, Syrians all over the world dare to dream again. Nader Machhadi (64), Aya (21) and Mohamed Alhaded (27) are some of the many Syrian refugees who fled to Sweden to escape one of the Middle East’s bloodiest dictatorships. What do they think of the sudden fall of Assad’s regime? And how do they see their country’s future?

On 23 February, Germany voted for a new parliament (Bundestag) and, consequently, a new government and chancellor.

Italy’s proposed Bill 1236, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, has sparked significant debate and concern. The bill, titled “Disposizioni in materia di sicurezza pubblica” (“Provisions on Public Security”), aims to implement stricter measures on public demonstrations and security protocols. Critics argue that it poses a threat to civil liberties, potentially criminalizing peaceful protests and environmental activism.

According to a Pew research study, over 50% of adults in multiple European countries believed that incoming refugees increased the likelihood of terrorism, and  over 40% of respondents in Italy, Sweden and Hungary blamed refugees for crime. This narrative has been reinforced by the growing influence of far-right political parties in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Hungary and Romania, which continue to perpetuate anti-immigrant policies and rhetorics, linking immigration to crime and violence.