Why did Germany approve provision of German-made tanks for Ukraine’s defence only after months of pressure and downright bashing of Chancellor Scholz and his party, both at home and abroad? This torment, explains PhD researcher Marius Ghincea, stems from a contest over elementary foreign-policy principles, combined with the rhetorical coercion that is customary practice in democracies.

This post introduces an exhibition at the EUI in February 2023 for Black History Month. History researcher and exhibition curator Daphné Budasz argues that learning about the diversity of Black life trajectories in Europe is a way to challenge White historical imagination.

In light of recent polling suggesting a substantial shift in opinion on Brexit, the EUI’s Joris Frese, Juho Härkönen and Simon Hix examine the extent to which this can be explained through ‘voter replacement’ – the phenomenon of older, Brexit-supporting voters passing away and younger, anti-Brexit voters entering the electorate.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, there is much talk of ‘smart sanctions’ – those with a strong impact on Russia but a low cost for the EU. Visiting Schuman Fellow Daniel Gros argues that a tariff on imports of gas might be smartest sanction of all.

Making EU funding available on the condition that the recipient monitors the money’s impact on men and women has become the new normal. STG Research Fellow Costanza Hermanin and Project Associate Carlotta Osti propose some further actions the EU could take to give even more clout to gender equality measures.

What do voters want? Former EUI member Konstantin Vössing and his co-author Sebastian Jobelius take a look at the decline in support for social democratic parties around the world, and suggest a new values-based strategy in light of research on voter moblisation.