Editorials - Page 10 of 20

The Day After

Britons have voted to leave the EU with a clear margin – 4% of the vote corresponding to more than a million voters. One hoped that the mobilization of UK and European leaders, Obama’s intervention, the warnings of businesses and the financial sector, and wide condemnation of Jo Cox’s murder would have persuaded the British electorate to vote for Remain. Nothing of that sort. When the popular millstone starts rolling there is nothing that can stop it…

The millstone has rolled and has crushed the hopes of many for a positive referendum outcome. Particularly hit are the dreams of the British youth, the majority of whom voted for a European future for themselves and their country. Also the EU migrants to the UK, who could not vote, expect to be seriously affected by the result. The value of the pound is collapsing and no doubt many businesses and financial firms that had chosen the UK as their EU base are considering where to move next. They may be followed by many Britons who feel European and have every right to continue as European citizens elsewhere in the EU.

EU Referendum and the contradictions of Tory ideology

The battle over the EU membership within the Conservative Party has exposed the deep-seated divisions as well as contradictions of its Thatcherite ideology. These will outlive the campaign itself.

Blood ties between EU and UK

The untimely death of British MP Jo Cox in the hands of an extreme English nationalist has deprived her constituency, her country and Europe of a hard-working and inspiring individual dedicated with body and soul to the good causes of humanity. It has also deprived the British Labour Party and UK politics from a rising star, and the campaign for the UK staying in the EU of a passionate and committed voice.

Brexit Beyond Left and Right: Globalisation, Class and Party Politics in the EU Referendum

One interesting aspect of the EU referendum in the UK campaign is the manner in which it has divided both of the main political parties. The tone of the debate has been characterised by populism, anger and misinformation. But beneath that, at a more fundamental level, it has revealed the re-orientation of party politics beyond traditional left/right divisions.

The perils of moral permissiveness in international affairs

UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, caused a stir a few days ago when he admitted publicly that he had agreed to remove a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia from a list of armies attacking civilians, because the Saudi government and its allies had threatened to stop funding UN humanitarian activities in Palestine and elsewhere.

Europe: is this our dream?

Dialogue , Op-ed
5 April, 2016

By Carlos Carnicero Urabayen

The EU is at an extremely decadent moment in its history – so much so that it is hardly recognizable to citizens. Europeans must to be capable of fighting and working together for a different Europe.

Farewell to Viktor

The Katoikos.eu family is mourning the loss of Viktor Sukup, a regular contributor and a personal friend of many of us. After a two-month long search, Viktor’s body was discovered just before Easter in a remote part of Cape Verde, where he fell to his death into a ravine while on a hike.

What Europe Has to Learn from Israel about Security

Containing terror with security measures only goes so far.

An article with the same title as this one was published in the Jerusalem Post, Israel’s English-language daily a day after the terrorist attacks in Brussels. The author, Yossi Melman, describes the attacks as “the result of years of negligence” and “a colossal security and intelligence failure.” According to Melman, Europe missed the opportunity to profit from Israel’s security-related know-how. The author is both right and wrong.

Our own “Waste Land”

Dialogue , Op-ed
28 March, 2016

by Evangelos Areteos

From the ashes of this ethical debris of the European civilization and the European project that were born after the Second World War and in reaction to all the ignominies of that past, the nation-state and its populist hubris are emerging as the big winners.

Brussels attacked

In recent months and years we have got used to witnessing attacks on Brussels, the city symbolizing the centre of the European Union that national leaders in government and opposition love to criticize for everything that goes wrong or is unpopular on the European continent. Today, though, 22 March 2016, it was not a metaphoric but a coordinated literal attack on the city of Brussels that dominated the headlines…