‘Europe has sent a clear signal: it will not defend its regulatory model when seriously challenged. The message has not been lost in Washington—or in Beijing. Already, the narrative of a weakened Europe is gaining traction among analysts and investors. The idea that the EU could act as a third pole in a global competition between powers has taken a direct hit.’
‘The failure of African states to properly address their racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and economic differences provided a fertile ground for rebel groups, like al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, al-Mulathameen Brigade, and now the Allied Democratic Forces to prosper.’
‘…just recently, during the EU–China summit hosted by Xi, not only was there no Chinese delegation to welcome European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top EU leaders, but the Chinese autocrat also made them take a bus to reach the summit venue. This does not look like a man who is on his way out.’
After the US–EU trade deal, it is impossible to ignore the striking similarities between late Qing‑era China and Europe’s current predicament. The period marking the downfall of the Qing dynasty is known as China’s Century of Humiliation—a process that, in many respects, is already well underway in today’s Europe. Yet our humiliation must not be allowed to last a century.
President Trump has weathered many scandals during his political career. This time, however, it is coming from a different direction—not the mainstream media, but his own base. Will he be able to live down the Epstein files debacle?
‘The EU accession of a country financially subjugated to Brussels would have far-reaching implications for the functioning of the Union. If Ukraine were to join the EU as a Member State, it would gain veto power in the Council, a Commissioner in the European Commission, and dozens of MEPs in the European Parliament—amounting to significant voting influence within EU institutions.’
‘Therefore, two Antemurale myths are currently clashing in Europe: one geopolitical and ideological, in which Ukraine is seen as the last bulwark of European civilization; the other cultural and demographic, with Hungary positioning itself as the defender of traditional Western values and Christianity.’
‘Beyond the purely political and economic, a strong civilizational synergy remains between the two nations. Hungary and Cambodia share the common fate of being ancient countries undergoing processes of national renewal and self-discovery, with the traumas of Communist anti-historicism—and the temptations of liberal ahistoricism—now largely behind them.’
‘This was a vacuous election. No one truly won the campaign, and no one emerged victorious in the battle of ideas. Neither major party offered a compelling vision for Australia’s future. As Liberal candidate Henry Pike admitted after election day, the campaign “became a blur of competing handouts and taxpayer-funded concessions.” It was, in short, a mess.’
‘In this new age of hybrid warfare, information is power. As the saying goes: “the pen is mightier than the sword”—and nothing is more dangerous than a government or military that has mastered the use of both. Social media, when properly weaponized, offers governments and organizations around the world alarming capabilities.’
‘How, then, can Hungary leverage the changes in the global monetary order to its advantage? By positioning itself as a hub for banking and finance across a range of currencies. This is where Hungary must draw on its…two key strengths: its geographic location and its diplomatic acumen…What is emerging is a ‘multipolar’ system of global money and banking…’
Donald Trump seems to have lost patience with Vladimir Putin regarding peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, as the US president has shifted his tone and promised increased weapon shipments to Kyiv. It increasingly appears that Trump has been unable to bring peace to Ukraine, just as Volodymyr Zelenskyy failed to deliver on the same campaign promise during his early days as president.
‘A well-integrated continental energy market can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure supply security across borders. Imagine a Europe where surplus solar energy from Spain powers German industry in summer…This is not only desirable—it is feasible. But integration must never be mistaken for dependency. True sovereignty—political, technological, and economic—requires energy sovereignty.’
‘The list could go on indefinitely, but the conclusion remains the same: one of the most corrupt leaderships in EU history is attempting to mask its own misconduct by attacking sovereign member states for precisely the same behaviours it engages in.’
‘The French Council of State…did not base its decision on educational freedoms. Instead, it invoked two principles from the Education Code. These principles are quasi-totalitarian: “The Nation assigns as the school’s primary mission to share the values of the Republic with students”; “Education is a national public service, whose organization and operation are ensured by the State.”’
‘In short, for the vast majority of the people in the region, Hungary would be the most acceptable and desirable form of Europe and Europeanization. Of course, the close connection with Trump, whom many truly appreciate and respect in the Balkans, also significantly contributes to this.’
Hungary has received extensive negative coverage from the mainstream media in the West after the National Assembly passed a law restricting the Budapest Pride march earlier this year. Back in 2019, however, the coverage was very different when city officials in Modesto, California, denied the permit for a straight pride parade.
‘Operation Spiderweb has a more profound impact than simply enabling the Ukrainians to secure a decisive military victory over Russia; it sets a new precedent for warfare. Cheap $400 drones can be used to surgically strike enemy targets while either minimizing or preventing collateral damage. This leads to startling possibilities, both good and bad.’
‘As conservatives, we understand that the world is a broken and imperfect historical place. We cannot go back in time, but we can focus on building a future that is more conscious of the dangers posed by the neo-Durkheimian order to local conservatism. To protect local conservatism and nourish its telos, we must argue for the restoration of national sovereignty…’
‘Trzaskowski lost because he should never have been the candidate—because his party distanced itself from its own electorate to the point of no longer being able to read their intentions, desires, and positions. Add to that the ever-growing urban–rural divide in present-day Europe, which…proved too steep even to be acknowledged by a party membership that is mostly urban and liberal-leaning.’
‘Baptists plan to vote this week on acting to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex unions ten years ago this month. They would be joining Republican lawmakers from nine states after Congressman Josh Schriver introduced the marriage resolution in his home state of Michigan, saying that the Obergefell ruling “is at odds with the sanctity of marriage…”’
‘When countries collectively decide to form a permanent institutional body where divisible sovereignty is the norm, like the EU, it attenuates the ability of those states to make decisions regarding the governance of their own economies and other associated policies. In essence, Hungary must realize that so long as it is a member state of the EU, it delegates certain decision-making to it.’
‘Conservatives don’t believe that we’re morally superior to our grandparents. Conservatives cherish all that’s made us: our families, our faith, our nations and the best that’s been thought and said. Conservatives count the cost of change, as well as its benefits, and want change to reflect what’s best in us, so we can come closer to being our best selves as individuals and as peoples.’
‘It is important to understand the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s place in the intricate interplay of local and international as well as sacred and profane interests that often seems to govern every important decision in the Holy Land. Pious pronouncements…from Europe and elsewhere abroad almost invariably collapse under the weight of the sheer complexity of local realities…’
‘It is hard to imagine a better example of “Stockholm syndrome” than this sorry episode, when local Catholics and even the Vatican seemed more intent on supporting la Résistance than protesting the occupation of the birthplace of Jesus Christ by Muslim militants. Perhaps some occupations are more just than others.’
The recent informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest showcased Hungary’s growing profile. Now it’s time to think bigger.
‘However we choose to understand the situation, the 7 October attacks absolutely do not “prove” that Trump’s approach with the Abraham Accords was in error. Instead, these attacks suggest that his innovative approach was too successful for malign actors such as Hamas to accept without taking spectacular and spectacularly risky measures to combat the success and promise of the Abraham Accords.’
‘Although the Court has automatic jurisdiction over member states having ratified the Rome Statute, it cannot prosecute a crime if the states involved have not recognized its jurisdiction. Neither Russia nor Ukraine have accepted the ICC’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, the very crime with which the Russian regime is accused.’
‘Yet nearly two decades later, Spain appears increasingly unprepared to manage a renewed wave of migratory pressure. In 2023 alone, over 56,000 migrants arrived by sea, with more than 61,000 arrivals recorded by the end of April 2024. The Canary Islands remain the epicentre, experiencing a 140 per cent year-on-year increase.’
‘We have heard Trump. We have heard Vance. We are taking notes. We are doing the work. But if we are to recover—from this economic dislocation, from cultural disorientation, from moral exhaustion—we will need your help. And if you choose not to offer it, because we are no longer good enough, or because better deals lie elsewhere—so be it.’
