Category: Europe/UK

Nationalism, Femicide, and New Masculinities: the far-right’s weaponisation of violence against women

Gendered violence is on the rise; it’s been declared an epidemic in several countries, including Australia, with the past few years having proved particularly dangerous for women. For hardline conservatives, there are a host of people to blame; recently, immigrants have been a favourite. The scapegoating of vulnerable communities by this section of the political spectrum has proven not just ineffective at combating male violence against women, but points towards a worrying trend of the dehumanisation of one group in the name of protection for another. … Continue readingNationalism, Femicide, and New Masculinities: the far-right’s weaponisation of violence against women

Eurovision 2025: the crossroads of culture and conflict

Austria’s JJ may have won Eurovision 2025, but the contest’s spotlight now shines on deeper tensions. With rising criticism over Israel’s inclusion, public protests, and broadcaster defiance, the event that’s hailed as non-political, strictly neutral now finds itself at the centre of global debate. As the EBU faces pressure from contestants, financial backers and viewers, questions grow louder about the future of neutrality, fairness, and cultural diplomacy on Europe’s biggest stage. … Continue readingEurovision 2025: the crossroads of culture and conflict

In Need of a Shepherd: Pope Leo XIV, a Church in Flux, and Our Desire for Moral Leadership

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, holds a series of firsts in the history of the Catholic Church. 

He becomes the first pontiff born after World War II, the first Augustinian to ascend the throne of Saint Peter, the first pope from the United States and also the first native English speaker since Adrian IV (r. 1154–1159).  His election not only broadens the geographic reach of the papacy but disrupts the traditional Eurocentric dominance of Catholic leadership. … Continue readingIn Need of a Shepherd: Pope Leo XIV, a Church in Flux, and Our Desire for Moral Leadership

Pillars of Strength: Breaking down the AUKUS Agreement

Donald Trump’s response of  “What does that mean?” may feel familiar to many when the acronym AUKUS is mentioned. Some readers may be familiar with the dialogue of submarines and the eye-watering amounts that this deal will apparently cost Australia (anywhere from $268bn to $368bn) but what actually is AUKUS and what does this all mean for Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific region?  … Continue readingPillars of Strength: Breaking down the AUKUS Agreement

Pan-Arabism in Egypt: A Mainspring in the Exodus of Greek-Egyptians and Foreign Diplomacy Today

To understand the decisions leading to the Greek exodus, we must first anchor ourselves in the early 1900s political climate and discourse that permeated Egypt at that time. Remains of these movements are visible in the Greek-Egyptian political relationship today, and multilateral efforts are being made to combat these challenges.  … Continue readingPan-Arabism in Egypt: A Mainspring in the Exodus of Greek-Egyptians and Foreign Diplomacy Today

The Johnson-Truss Transition | Can Britain’s New PM Assert Her Leadership?

Boris Johnson has bowed out as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after just three years in the role. With the UK facing a cost-of-living crisis, an energy catastrophe, and low levels of trust in elected officials, Johnson’s successor and former lieutenant Liz Truss faces one of the worst in-trays an incoming PM has had to tackle in a generation. Requiring an urgent response, will she be up for the task, or will she be forced to go the way of her recent predecessors? Will she be able to emerge from the shadow of Johnson’s leadership? … Continue readingThe Johnson-Truss Transition | Can Britain’s New PM Assert Her Leadership?

Posted on by mias

Sports and Politics: Can They Be Kept Separate?

The implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to expand beyond politics and the economy and into new contexts, the latest of which has been sport. The highly esteemed English tennis competition Wimbledon has made the decision to impose a ban on Russian and Belarusian players as part of a global effort to sanction Russia for its attack on Ukraine.

Sneha Ramanan discusses the significance of this ban and asks the question: Can sport and politics ever truly be separated? … Continue readingSports and Politics: Can They Be Kept Separate?

The Platinum Jubilee and Constitutional Monarchy in the 21st Century

Today marks the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s accession to the Throne. Although not a time of celebration for the Queen as it also marks the anniversary of the death of her beloved father King George VI, this milestone will be celebrated across the Commonwealth with much fanfare in June. Every jubilee and significant royal event brings about questions regarding the monarchy’s future in Australia and other Commonwealth realms, including Canada and New Zealand. While it is important to have such discussions about the political structure of our country, there are other constitutional issues regarding the functionality of our governance which should be addressed more urgently. … Continue readingThe Platinum Jubilee and Constitutional Monarchy in the 21st Century

Posted on by mias

Climate Change and the IPCC Report: What Is to Be Done?

‘On August 9th 2021, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the first instalment of its Sixth Assessment Report, AR6. This landmark document will be the subject of deliberations during the COP26 Summit this November in Glasgow. It confirms what scientists have been saying for decades; that human activity is unequivocally responsible for the increases in the earth’s temperature.’

Megha Iyer discusses the pressing need for all countries to adopt the recommendations stipulated in the AR6 and the crucial opportunity that COP26 presents to make this a reality.

This article is the first in a series of articles focusing on environmental policy and politics in the lead up to the COP26 Summit. … Continue readingClimate Change and the IPCC Report: What Is to Be Done?

Posted on by Megha Iyer