editorial partner Liberte! Friedrich Naumann Foundation

Politics

Democratic Protests and Civil Society in Iran with Touska Gholami Khaljiri [PODCAST]
Politics, Think Tank News
Democratic Protests and Civil Society in Iran with Touska Gholami Khaljiri [PODCAST]
How is the Iranian society coping with the crackdown on the protests? What is the current state of the regime and its prospects for the future? Who is Reza Pahlavi and what might be his role in the near future? And how do Iranians view the U.S. intervention in their affairs? Leszek Jazdzewski talks with Touska Gholami Khaljiri, an Iranian women’s and children’s rights activist and researcher based in Łódź, Poland.
Overcoming Challenges: Political Realignment and Revival of the Civil Union Debate in Poland
Politics
Overcoming Challenges: Political Realignment and Revival of the Civil Union Debate in Poland
Poland stands at a decisive moment in the debate over legal recognition for same-sex couples. After years of political stalemate and institutional resistance, a shift in parliamentary power in 2023 created renewed momentum for reform. The emergence of a broad democratic coalition — spanning from the left to the centre-right — has reopened legislative space for civil unions. Yet political realignment alone does not guarantee success.
Liberal Solutions to US Interference in Europe’s Digital Space
Politics
Liberal Solutions to US Interference in Europe’s Digital Space
Foreign influence and malign interference are most often associated with adversarial actors such as Russia or China. Yet there are also areas in which US-based actors—both public and private—exercise pressure on European decision- and policymakers in comparable ways. Disputes over freedom of speech, censorship, and digital rights have become a new front line in transatlantic relations.
Is European Sovereignty a Real Possibility? with Olaf Osica [PODCAST]
Politics, Think Tank News
Is European Sovereignty a Real Possibility? with Olaf Osica [PODCAST]
What is the future, if any, of the transatlantic relationship? Where do we stand on European sovereignty versus President Donald Trump? What should we know about the \'brave new world order\' proposed by Canadian PM Mark Carney? Should Europe try to keep the United States on board as long as possible or mobilize against it? Leszek Jazdzewski talks with Olaf Osica, a former director of the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW).
26 Opportunities and Threats of 2026
Politics
26 Opportunities and Threats of 2026
After recent years filled with tragic events, conflicts, and global pandemics, many of us are, above all, hoping for a breakthrough in the form of an ending. An end to populism, an end to war, or an end to the right-wing offensive launched by Trump in 2024; an offensive that has swept across Europe, both Americas, and is steadily pushing us toward an open war with Putin’s Russia.
Maduro Affair: Anti-Trump Sentiment Overshadows the Cause of Venezuelans
Politics
Maduro Affair: Anti-Trump Sentiment Overshadows the Cause of Venezuelans
The daring attack by U.S. forces on the Venezuelan regime and the arrest of dictator Nicolás Maduro sparked a wave of controversy around the world. In Poland, reactions were fairly predictable: from enthusiastic praise of Donald Trump by circles associated with the Law and Justice party (PiS), to reflexive, often complete criticism of the U.S. president’s actions from many left-liberal groups.
Trends and Tendencies in Participatory Budgeting: City Government and Local Democracy in Budapest
Politics
Trends and Tendencies in Participatory Budgeting: City Government and Local Democracy in Budapest
The use of participatory budgeting (PB) has appeared in more and more democratically governed municipalities in recent years. According to the 2021 book “World Atlas of Participatory Budgeting,” this method is widespread primarily in Europe and secondarily in South America, in which the residents of the city can propose the use of a certain amount from the municipality’s budget.”