Politics

Tomio Okamura, the Czech Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, made a New Year\'s speech which is a prime example of economic populism that pretends to be \"common sense\" but is actually based on systematic simplification, confusion of terms, and false dilemmas. Underneath the appealing language of optimism and concern for \"ordinary people\" lies a set of claims that deny known facts, ignore the government\'s policy statement, and distort reality.

In 1776, three texts appeared almost simultaneously that helped define the political and moral architecture of the modern world. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense gave popular voice to the radical idea that political authority must rest on reason and consent rather than tradition. Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations provided a systematic account of how prosperity emerges from freedom, specialization, and exchange.

The death of Charlie Kirk, a controversial right-wing political activist, has had a widespread impact, not only in U.S. politics but also across the globe. This article examines how the assassination of a conservative figure has affected the domestic politics of a country known for its long-standing government that prides itself on having traditional, conservative values, exactly what Charlie Kirk stood for.

Due to the activities of the Parliamentary Group on the Decriminalization of Marijuana, the debate on the decriminalization and legalization of recreational cannabis has returned to Poland. The Group plans to present a draft act that would decriminalize the possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana. Current research on drug policy indicates that, from a harm-reduction perspective, the most effective solution is the legalization of this substance.

Facebook warriors, digital civic circles, and who knows what other groups will lead Fidesz\'s campaign ahead of the 2026 elections. But why has the ruling party turned to these tools now, and what results can it expect from them?

Trump demands that universities, including Columbia, where he has already succeeded, formally adopt and enforce the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which completely blurs the line between real dislike or hatred of Jews and criticism of Israeli state policy (for which there are currently many very valid reasons).

When talking about total defense, for whom and against what is it? What should the European total defense look like? Why cannot everyone be like Finland? And is total defense even possible in polarized societies? Leszek Jazdzewski talks with Helena Quis, who works in the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Europe Programme as an expert on European security and resilience, focusing on total defense and civil preparedness. 

How to deal with the weaponization of information? What is the future (if any) of independent journalism? What does public interest information mean and why should it be protected? Have we lost the shared understanding of the world? And, if that is the case, how can we restore it? Leszek Jazdzewski talks with Patrice Schneider, Chief Strategy Officer at the Media Development Investment Fund.

When the United States struggled with a recession in the early 1990s, James Carville, who was an adviser to Bill Clinton during the presidential campaign, coined a slogan that for decades became a hallmark of neoliberal thinking (or even a neoliberal worldview). The economy, stupid! was quoted in virtually every language, tailored to the circumstances of a given country, company, or even private matters.

Priorities. Practically every ministry, every coalition, even every group sitting at a table in a pub has a whole list of them. But so as not to sound too self-deprecating, this is not just a problem in the Czech Republic. For three and a half years, we have been hearing that defense is our European priority. I would very much like to agree with that.