Reform or Facade? Pezeshkian’s Challenges in Transforming Iran
The reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, is Iran’s newly elected president, an election between hope and disgust amongst people.
The reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, is Iran’s newly elected president, an election between hope and disgust amongst people.
The Kosovo War (1998-1999) and the ongoing Ukraine War (2022) both significantly influenced the EU’s approach to enlargement strategies.
Europe’s defence and security has become the main concern of political parties and citizens. All electoral programmes contained proposals on this issue.
The cost of living crisis in Europe has been one of the most pressing concerns since 2021. Several measures by the national governments and the EU have failed to provide relief to the citizens. The main cause behind it is the divided approach of the political parties to handle the situation. Right wing parties favour competitiveness while the left argue for investment in public enterprises. For this economic crisis to be effectively dealt with, parties need to rise from their differences and work as a union to lift its people from economic and social insecurities.
The Bulgarian spiral of political instability continues. The impact of uncertainty within the fragmented political landscape on Schengen and Eurozone aspirations.
The defence has become a key issue for the EU. After Russia’s invasion old needs have resurged. The EDIS sets the defence industrial policy.
As tensions rise between the United States and Venezuela ahead of their upcoming presidential elections, the delicate balance of democracy and diplomacy comes into focus. The US had eased sanctions to encourage dialogue, but recent events have sparked renewed friction, leading to the reimposition of sanctions. Venezuela is grappling with economic challenges and diplomatic strains, especially with recent bans on opposition candidates. As both countries navigate these issues, the future of US-Venezuela relations is uncertain, with potential impacts beyond their borders.
The BRP Sierra Madre acts as the Philippines’ stronghold over the Second Thomas Shoal against Chinese advances in the South China Sea. In the past year, tensions in the region have escalated, with both nations’ coast guard services engaged in heated confrontations. Due to the shoal’s strategic location, both countries employed risky strategies to pursue their goals of controlling this location. Hence, turning the shoal and the BRP Sierra Madre into the South China Sea’s new geopolitical flashpoint towards the boundaries of a possible conflict.
Central Asia is a vast and resource-rich region situated between three major centers of influence. Formerly part of both the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union, its nations have only recently gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. They continue to be influenced by Moscow, although they have made some significant strides towards autonomy in their own right. The Russian military’s actions in Ukraine have continuously eroded the credibility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance. This, coupled with a significant loss of soft power in the countries of the post- Soviet space, which traditionally formed part of its sphere of influence, could create an opening for other influential actors to emerge as real alternative partners. The European Union wishes to consider an even more proactive role in Central Asia, given the young nations’ of Central Asia newfound pragmatism in foreign policy and its potential to enhance EU interests.
Slovak Prime Minister survived an assassination attempt, yet Slovak democracy is still on life support.