China and South America: The Pacific Alliance
Since 2011, the South American neighbourhood has concocted a novel regionalist scheme, the Pacific Alliance (PA). Oriented towards motivating deeper trade and investment relations with Asia through intergovernmental understanding – while avoiding any sort of supranationality or requirement to (partially) give up sovereignty,
Trump’s Midterms Strategy: Fear and Anger
Previous articles about why populism is dangerous have addressed the issue of austerity (here), the public health crisis (here), the false “migrant crisis” (here), and the propensity for war (here). This article explores Trump’s midterms strategy to drive voters to
Anti-Establishment Nationalist Wave still Trumps Democrats
It feels as if the 2016 Presidential election was just yesterday but yet it is already November 2018 and the US midterms are here. Will they be a replay of the anti-establishment nationalist wave that trumped Hillary Clinton in 2016? Millions
Why Populism is Dangerous: The Propensity for War
Populism is dangerous and has shown overtime an irresistible propensity for war. Public safety, health and the economy are at risk. But populist propaganda is hard to resist. Populist politicians thrive on fake news: it is so much easier to
Divide and rule: America’s biggest social issue
The first months after the 2016 election results were the hardest. Falling victim to having to pick a side was like drinking a poison that induced anger, anxiety, and doubts. You were either black or white, gay or straight, American
Trump vs. Macron at the United Nations
The fight between US President Trump and French President Macron at the United Nations General Assembly hit headlines around the world. It was a classic clash of values, openness and multilateralism promoted by Macron vs. unilateral nationalism, the "doctrine of
“Fear”: Bob Woodward’s New Book is a Bombshell
A key question is raging around Bob Woodward's new book “Fear: Trump in the White House”, published by Simon & Schuster on September 11: Did Bob Woodward wildly exaggerate and fabricate findings or is the Trump White House, and more
Trump on the Warpath: Attacking the Justice Department
(Updated 5 September 2018) Trump is on the warpath. Trump is cornered. Two catastrophic verdicts against his personal fix-it lawyer Michael Cohen (who has taken a plea deal) and his one-time campaign manager Manafort (who hasn’t) have made the news
Europe Haters, Unite! Steve Bannon at Work in Europe
Steve Bannon is roaming Europe trying to unite nationalist populist parties, in preparation of the next European Parliament elections coming up in May 2019. Bannon is a man to watch: alt-right guru, former investment banker, former executive chairman of Breitbart
Turkey’s Lira Crisis: How Dangerous?
Turkey’s Lira crisis: Is it a strictly Turkish problem or is there a risk of contagion? The answer to that question is complex and requires taking a close look at what happened and at Erdogan's role which is central. Including
Trump Fatigue – How to Deal with it
Is Trump fatigue inevitable? Can something be done to alleviate it - apart from not reading his tweets and not listening to his speeches? This is very similar to another well-known psychological problem: Compassion fatigue. That is the clinical name for
Trump at War with Europe
Trump’s one week tour to Europe, starting 11 July in Brussels, marks a watershed in Trump’s attack on the liberal world order. It is now clear that Trump is at war with Europe. The tour could have been a victory