A farmer stands near a fire as farmer gather as part of the nationwide protests against agricultural policies in Plouisy, Western France on 20 February 2024.

When Green Dreams Meet Peasant Schemes

‘The protests today, like the Peasants’ War, are not merely about specific policy grievances but represent a broader disillusionment with political and economic systems that seem increasingly out of touch with the needs and values of significant portions of the population. Both movements illustrate how new social forces can galvanize widespread action, pushing societies to a tipping point where change becomes inevitable.’

Jan Brueghel the Younger, Allegory of War (1640s). Private collection

How Democracies and Autocracies Fight Wars

‘For material, political, and geopolitical reasons, democracies trend towards long-duration, remote, low-exposure, naval, air, and space warfare. An absent-minded reading might leave a reader with a sense of dissonance between democratic tendencies and democratic victories in two world wars. In fact, the world wars were distant and long-lasting for the few democracies that won in the end.’

Engraving of the First Vatican Council held in Saint Peter's Basilica during the papacy of Pius IX in 1869.

Why Is Conservatism Potentially Dangerous to Christianity?

‘Many Christians who hold modernity culpable for the demise of the church and dispersion of the Christian flock join forces with political conservatism, seeing in it their natural political ally and representative, while conservative politicians look upon these groups—and many of their institutional leaders, bishops, evangelists, theologians—as reliable, strong, and loyal supporters.’

The Year of Anticipation — What Does 2024 Hold for the War in Ukraine?

As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the prospect of peace remains as distant as it did 24 months ago. However, with the upcoming political events in Europe and the United States, 2024 holds the potential for significant changes. With these crucial events ahead, there is hope that 2025 could finally become the year of peace in Ukraine.

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and South African Ambassador to the Netherlands Vusi Madonsela in the ICJ courtroom in The Hague on 26 January 2024.

South Africa Is Challenging the West, Not Only Israel

While South Africa alleges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, it failed to condemn some of the most severe human rights abuses of our times in the past. Pretoria’s assertion that its engagement to prevent grave human rights violations, fulfilling its responsibilities ‘under a treaty obligation to prevent genocide from occurring’ is a political stunt and a blatant attempt to exploit the international legal system.

Zelenskyy’s Nearing End Game

Tensions are escalating between the political and military leadership in Ukraine, as press reports indicate that Volodymyr Zelenskyy attempted to dismiss Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny. The Ukrainian president’s room for manoeuvre seems to be diminishing, and he needs his European allies now more than ever to survive.