Analysis archive

UK needs new 'productive' Euroscepticism
One of the biggest problems in Britain's debate about Europe is one of labelling. Euroscepticism, for example, should imply a desire for positive change based on what the EU is and what it might become, writes Andy Halsall

Syria puts US-Turkey relations in spotlight
The crisis in Syria has emphasised the security-heavy nature of relations between Turkey and the US – but the political, economic and cultural dimensions remain underdeveloped, writes Ian Lesser

Pessimism and populism on the rise in a Europe without hope
The sense of hopelessness is, perhaps, the single most serious threat to the long-term viability of the European project – writes Joe Litobarski

Subsidies for renewables hold back green economy
The green energy sector is not as economically productive as the fossil-fuelled one – and subsidies for current inadequate technologies make things worse by discouraging innovation, writes Dr John Constable

Iran election comes amid 'unstoppable' political change
Whoever wins the June presidential election in Iran, an unstoppable process has started to move the country towards a more open and modernised socio-political establishment, writes Vahram Ayvazyan

Concerns over Canada's Arctic Council agenda
The Arctic Council is taking steps to move from a decision-shaping to a decision-making international organisation – but Canada might find Sweden's chairmanship a tough act to follow, write Kristofer Bergh, Linda Jakobson and Ekaterina Klimenko

Euro leaders 'dangerously sanguine' about low inflation
The role of higher inflation in helping to address the eurozone crisis is poorly understood – but if the single currency is to survive, it needs to avoid the vicious circle of a liquidity trap, writes economist Simon Tilford

Pakistan elections present opportunity amid violence
Pakistan's successful democratic transition, combined with its increasingly dangerous pathologies, suggest that it is high time the west focused on how Islamabad can deliver on its people's aspirations, writes Daniel Twining

EU budget cuts 'irresponsible and unacceptable'
The proposals for the EU's new seven-year budget period are backward-looking and fail to provide an effective answer to the crisis. Without significant concessions, MEPs should not give their consent, writes Helga Trüpel

The EU's climate policy is 'under attack' - can it resist?
Critics have concluded that the EU is not prepared to assume the role of climate leader that the world so urgently needs. Instead the region's finance ministers should be leading the fight, argues Lies Craeynest

'Worrying' reaction as Italy appoints first black minister
Some of the hate-filled reaction to the appointment of the first black woman in an Italian government highlights the need for public figures adopt a zero tolerance approach to comments likely to incite violence and racism, writes Michaël Privot

Steep decline in number of Brits who can name their MP
British people struggle to name their MP but increasingly believe parliament effectively holds the government to account and discusses issues that matter, writes Dr Ruth Fox

Quitting EU 'would threaten UK firms and environment'
Without access to EU markets and migrant workers many British companies would not function, while leaving the bloc could be devastating for the UK's environmental policy, writes Jean Lambert MEP

UK 'washing its hands' of Afghan interpreters
The British government's attitude towards Afghan interpreters who risked their lives in their own country is hard-hearted and may be linked to the national mood music against immigration, writes Geoffrey Bowden

Chances of new era in Italian politics 'non-existent'
Despite Prime Minister Enrico Letta's rhetoric and Silvio Berlusconi's attempts to restyle himself as a statesman ready to compromise, there is little chance of a normalisation of Italian politics, writes Daniele Albertazzi