occasional reflections on culture & politics
What is Democracy? The typical answer would be the “Rule of the People.” While this is the direct translation of the Greek term, it is instructive that the original term used for Athenian democracy was Isonomy – “same rights for everyone.” The word “democracy” was used alternatively with “ochlocracy” as meaning “mob rule.” Why is… Continue reading #207: Democracy Only Works with a Strong Separation of Powers
Since the end of World War II, the transatlantic focus has been on the northern hemisphere. This is a result primarily influenced by three factors: The inevitable realization that the defense of Europe against any aggressor can only be successful if North America, especially the United States, is included in any European security framework. Any… Continue reading #91: The Transatlantic Perspective Needs to be Global
I. Game of Thrones has been a mainstay of recent television mania. Each year, the excitement built up more and more, and for the very last season, expectations were high, and, as it goes with genre shows, fans had their very concrete ideas about how things should develop. This now is a very belated, spoiler-filled… Continue reading #54: The Dictator as False Messiah: A Belated Review of Game Of Thrones Season 8
Now in a major crisis, the European Union has a chance to lead. But how should such leadership look like, and how strong should such a union be? It may well be understandable that currently, during the Coronavirus crisis of 2020, its individual member states are concerned about their own safety, and that they have… Continue reading #14: The European Project Needs Both Unity and Disunity
Erratic Attempts 