Growing reluctance to engage with books is endangering democracy and science. Deep reading boosts the human capacity for abstract and analytical thinking, protecting us from the corrosive effects of bias, prejudice and conspiracy theories.
[Catalonian version added]
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and its denial of rights at home, are precisely the kind of development that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe was set up to prevent. So why has the OSCE failed to fulfil its purpose?
The end of the Second World War was not a single moment defined by victory and defeat. Rather, it was a pluriform and drawn-out process perpetuated by colonial power politics in the Global South.
The Second World War no longer serves as a history of the western European present. The current era is marked by a different set of problems, not least the fading appeal of the model of democracy installed after 1945.
Two opposing interpretations of 1945 form the ideological core of today’s confrontation between Russia and the states of central and eastern Europe. Both are reactions to the collapse of the Cold War order.
Journalism may be touted as a heroic pursuit, but the working conditions undermine young talent and career prospects are few and far between. Journalists talk panic attacks in the editorial rooms, early career experiences and the transformation of their profession.
Transgender identities are commonly misunderstood. Authorities such as the UK Supreme Court see fit to erase trans people to satisfy retrograde opinions on gender diversity. But looking back at the life of American activist Lou Sullivan, profiled by Vox Feminae, is a timely reminder that being born a ‘biological woman’ isn’t a fixed definition.
Polish journalists, micromanaged by the authorities, tread a fine line between boondoggling and ritually sensationalizing political debate. The following fragment from ‘Bullshit Journalism: Why is it so bad to work in the Polish media?’ gives voice to professionals under duress.
Artist Marharyta Polovinko’s creativity persisted in a tormented form through her experiences as a soldier on the Ukrainian frontline. The words of a recently called-up fellow creative and young family man provide a stark reminder that the Ukrainian military is buying Europeans time.
Women who take up running face all manner of challenges, from sexual harassment to overcoming body self-consciousness. Croatian journal Vox Feminae reflects on the sport’s development in Yugoslavia and its role today, including benefits for body, mind and connecting with the environment.
In a world saturated with information, stimuli and industrialized noise, silence can be a reprieve – a vital force that is at least as clear as the ‘loud’ slogans raised at protests and rallies.
Steady access to safe, drinkable water is still a privilege, and Europe is struggling with ever-worsening droughts. The new episode of the Standard Time talk show discusses chemical hazards, eco guerrillas, and why we can never have enough pelicans.
To a young Slovak dissident, the Helsinki Accords seemed at the time merely to cement the status quo. He was proven wrong. Fifty years later, however, it is clear that the power of the declaration was confined to its historical moment.
[German version added]
For the US today, tariffs serve the same purpose as bombs. But Trump’s revival of 19th century-style economic imperialism may be alienating his international far-right allies – with one exception: Russia.
Four NGOs in Kharkiv explain what the suspension of USAID funding means for their work. They include a media organization countering Russian propaganda, a centre providing veterans with legal advice, and volunteer groups refurbishing war-damaged buildings.
On the border between Poland and Belarus, the Forest has become the subject of a humanitarian crisis. An artist’s report, based on meetings with activists and refugees, charts this contested space. Poetry honours those lost in transit.