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Articles by Sophia Russack
La UE se parece cada vez más a un gobierno en minoría liderado por el PPE
En un trílogo reciente, los negociadores del Parlamento Europeo (PE) y del Consejo acordaron endurecer de forma notable la política migratoria europea con la creación de "centros de retorno" fuera de la UE. La posición del PE se apoyó en una mayoría formada por el Partido Popular Europeo (PPE), de centroderecha, y los grupos de derecha radical. Pero no se trata de un giro aislado en una política concreta, sino del síntoma de un cambio estructural mucho más profundo.
Parteipolitik im EU-Parlament: Brüssels Brandmauer gegen rechts fällt langsam, still und leise
© dpa/Frederick Florin Schon die wichtige Anhörung der neuen EU-Kommissarinnen und -Kommissare dürfte dieses Mal nicht nur inhaltlich, sondern auch parteipolitisch getrieben sein. Konservative und Rechtsextreme könnten zusammenarbeiten. Das ist gefährlich. Ein Gastbeitrag von Sophia Russack Heute, 11:37 Uhr Die CDU in Deutschland hält eine Brandmauer gegen die AfD aufrecht. Auf europäischer Ebene bahnen sich dagegen ohne großes Aufsehen Kooperationen zwischen Konservativen und Rechtsextremen an.
Elecciones europeas 2024. ¿Un punto de inflexión para la integración de la UE?
Monografía CIDOB nº 88 La politización de los asuntos europeos en los estados miembros de la Unión Europea (UE) –con el constante aumento de opiniones enfrentadas sobre ello– es un fenómeno creciente e irrefrenable.
The Radicality of Sunlight
The EU is going through a critical moment in its history, expected to deliver on many fronts at once, from long-term transitions to crisis after crisis that has threatened to seriously upset its stability. It would be wrong, however, to assume that the EU can afford to ignore its deepest perennial challenge, namely its own democratic credentials.
The Brexit options, explained
After struggling for most of 2017 to find common ground, Great Britain and the European Union finally agreed last month to the material terms of their “divorce.” Negotiations will now proceed to discuss the terms of their post-Brexit relationship. Together, the EU document and the guidelines issued days later by the remaining 27 EU leaders severely narrow the path forward for the future U.K.-EU relationship.
Can Angela Merkel find her own way out of the crisis in Berlin?
A yawning power vacuum has opened at the heart of Europe. At a time when a shaken West and indeed much of the rest of the world is nervously looking to Germany for ideas and leadership, efforts to form a new government in Berlin have collapsed. For the first time in the country’s postwar history, there is no combination of political parties willing and able to form a majority government. As a result, Germany and its allies are confronting the possibility of prolonged instability.
Is the refugee crisis an opportunity for an aging Europe?
Europe is facing the biggest inflow of migrants in decades. The number of refugees from conflict zones in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere arriving at southern European shores is rising by the day. The resulting surge of asylum claims in the European Union (EU) have exposed divisions between EU member states over how to react.
Why cooperating on the Syrian refugee challenge is in everyone’s interest
The suicide attack that hit Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square on Tuesday morning killed at least 10 people and injured 15 others. The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu connected the blast to a militant of Syrian origin, who then became identified as an affiliate of the Islamic State (or ISIS). The attacks targeted mostly tourists (Norwegians, Peruvians, and Germans in this case).
Were Bosnia’s ‘good ol’ days’ really that good?
Many people in Bosnia who are old enough to remember will tell you that things were better in the past. Indeed, if you ask people in much of former Yugoslavia, many will agree. The view that the past was somehow better is not so unusual in many parts of the world. If you ask my grandmother—of Welsh and Irish stock, and going strong in her mid-90s—she will sometimes tell you the same. And if you ask my mother—of English and Yiddish stock, and in her mid-60s—she will also tell you the same.
The flip side of Euro-Atlantic integration
Many people equate the European Union with Europe, overlooking a few nuances along the way. From a historical point of view, of course, it is clear that the EU, having contributed to ending centuries of war and violent conflict among its member states, nowadays embodies the antithesis of pre-1945 Europe. And in geographical terms, the EU’s successive enlargements have allowed it to reflect, far more closely than ever before, the full expanse of the European continent.
Helmut Kohl: A great and flawed statesman | Brookings Institution
Helmut Kohl, Germany’s chancellor from 1982 to 1998, will be doubly remembered by history as one of its greatest leaders and also one of its most flawed. For a generation of Germans, his towering and darkly ponderous frame seemed to literally embody his center-right Christian Democratic party (CDU) and later the country itself—in both the best and the worst ways. His era ended long before his passing last week at the age of 87.
Macron’s stunning reshaping of French politics | Brookings Institution
French president Emmanuel Macron’s year-old political party, La République en Marche (LEM), has won a large majority in the two-round parliamentary elections that took place on June 11 and June 18. With its ally Mouvement Démocrate (Modem), the president can now count on the full support of 361 members of parliament (of a total of 577).
Everyone loses in UK election
Theresa May last night became the second Conservative Prime Minister in less than year to take an unnecessary gamble, and lose. She was elevated to the premiership in the aftermath of David Cameron’s reckless decision to hold a referendum on EU membership. After the Brexit vote, and after a terrifying few days in which it seemed possible that Boris Johnson could lead Her Majesty’s Government, May seemed like a godsend. May’s mantra during the election was an offer of “strong, stable leadership”.
In Germany, more momentum for Merkel | Brookings Institution
With the third state election win in a row for her conservative party, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pulled off a political hat-trick that only a few months ago seemed unthinkable. It may even provide her with enough momentum to coast into a fourth term in the federal elections on September 24. For center-left challenger Martin Schulz, it is a nasty blow in his home state that may signal the demise of his candidacy before his campaign has really begun.
The comeback of Angela Merkel | Brookings Institution
Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the French presidential elections and a conservative upset win in a bellwether German regional election, both on Sunday, have produced an unexpected third winner: Angela Merkel. Germany’s chancellor, who is aiming for a fourth term in the September 24 elections, has had a hard three years. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, its support of violent separatism in Ukraine, and its constant probing of European vulnerabilities sapped a lot of Berlin’s energies.
Europe and the world | Brookings Institution
Javier Solana, a distinguished fellow at Brookings, discusses why Europe and European institutions such as the EU and NATO are important not only in terms of European integration, but for the world. Solana has held numerous leadership posts, including: member of the Spanish parliament; Spanish foreign affairs minister; secretary-general of NATO; European Union high representative for common foreign and security policy; and secretary general of the Council of the European Union.
Macron’s foreign policy: Claiming the tradition | Brookings Institution
Emmanuel Macron, according to the some of the more hyperbolic press, is all that stands between us and the end of Western civilization. In the wake of the U.K.’s decision to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s election, a populist president in France would mean three strikes and the liberal world order is out. It is apocalyptic thinking, but it captures the current mood and places a greater than usual weight on an untested presidential candidate.
A bloody final debate between Macron and Le Pen as France heads toward election runoff | Brookings Institution
On Wednesday night, the two final candidates in France’s presidential election—centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-rightist Marine Le Pen—faced off in a two-and-a-half-hour televised debate, less than four days before the final round on May 7. The highly combative exchange delivered little by way of content. The times they are a-changin’ In 2002, former President Jacques Chirac refused to debate Le Pen’s father (and predecessor as leader of the Front National) Jean-Marie Le Pen in a similar debate.
Russia is not strong. And Putin is even weaker. | Brookings Institution
Sergey Aleksashenko wants everyone to stop calling Russia weak. He contends that Russia is actually stronger than many people believe —to include U.S. President Barack Obama and British military historian Lawrence Freedman among other prominent voices. But Russia is weak and Russian President Vladimir Putin is even weaker. Aleksashenko misunderstands Russian strength because he makes three critical errors. First, he assumes that strength and weakness are static and so fails to look at trends.
Two versions of France, now racing toward the finish line | Brookings Institution
Just like the “two Americas” that many U.S. analysts saw during the 2016 presidential campaign, the Macron-Le Pen match that will take place on May 7 in the French presidential election runoff will have all the ingredients of a clash between “two Frances.” The front-runner Emmanuel Macron, who won 23.8 percent of the votes in yesterday’s first round, appeals to younger, pro-European, well-educated professionals.
François Hollande’s legacy: Strong abroad, weak at home | Brookings Institution
Just three days before the first round of France’s presidential election, a gunman opened fire at one of Paris’ most famous landmarks, the Champs Elysées avenue, killing one policeman and wounding two others. Outgoing President François Hollande quickly called yet another meeting of the French defense council.
President Trump’s First 100 Days: What Brookings experts are saying, 4/14/17 | Brookings Institution
In week 12 of Donald Trump’s presidency, the president met with NATO’s secretary-general, the secretary of state met with Russian leaders, tensions about North Korea increased, and talk of reviving the stalled health care replacement bill resurfaced. Here’s an update on what Brookings experts are saying in the first 100 days about the Trump administration’s policy choices, personnel decisions, and engagements with global and domestic events.
Turkey has a major drug problem—here’s how to get a handle on it | Brookings Institution
As wars, migration, and other dynamics re-shape politics and security in the Middle East and Europe, Turkey has been a bridge country in many ways. But one challenge that has been understudied is the illegal drug trade in the country.
Regroup and Reform | Brookings Institution
This incisive report comes at a time of almost unprecedented self-examination for the European Union. Faced with growing nationalism, ‘illiberalism’, economic, security and political challenges—not least to the very membership of the Union—the relevance of the EU has become a matter of intense debate. How the EU responds to these challenges will define the next era of cooperation and integration in Europe.
The Russian economy in 2050: Heading for labor-based stagnation
Since the beginning of the 1990s, Russia has been suffering from a negative demographic trend. Despite active immigration—more than 9 million people arrived in Russia between 1990 and 2014—the population declined by 3.7 million (Chart 1).
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