Essays & News

A speech given during XVIII. Gottfried von Haberler Conference on May 17, 2024 Summary This lecture is based on the contrast between the classical liberal idea on the one hand and the idea of Platonism or scientism on the other. The classical liberal idea is to recognize every human being as a person with fundamental […]

Last week, China’s President Xi Jinping undertook a five-day tour of Europe, visiting France, Serbia and Hungary. This selection of host countries might appear odd at first, but it hides a double strategy. Officially, Mr. Xi made commemoration calls: in France, he highlighted its recognition of the People’s Republic of China 60 years ago; in […]

In a nutshell China’s close ties to Russia prevent it from being a credible mediator in the Ukraine war Beijing appears to be making a second attempt at peacemaking to court the West These endeavors may not prove convincing to Western countries   Observers familiar with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s governance style have grown used […]

  The Houthi rebels in Yemen announced that they may no longer limit themselves merely to attacking ships in the Red Sea – they might also carry out missile strikes in the Mediterranean. This escalation presents an additional threat for Europe, yet reactions are, for now, minimal in European capitals. The war in Ukraine dominates […]

In a nutshell Conflict fatigue is prompting new approaches to fund Ukraine aid Seizing Russian assets could undermine Western currencies The West cannot easily avoid hard financial choices over the war   For more than two years, Ukraine has been defending itself against the onslaught of the Russian invasion. For just as long, the West […]