Human Security Centre Human Rights and International Security Research

The spectre of populism is haunting Europe. The populist parties are surging around the whole continent, and Germany is not an exception. The support for the far right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has risen significantly, which brings with it concerns about the sustainability of German democracy in the future.

Brexit became a turning point that vividly demonstrated the difference between the promised vision of devolution and its actual functionality in today’s reality. It is high time for the Good Friday Agreement to be reviewed.

Orban can be seen as a voice of the Kremlin in the European Union. His claims about the necessity of withdrawal of sanctions from Russia, hindering the arm supply to Kyiv and opposition to Ukrainian membership of the European Union prove that this suspicion is relevant.

If a compromise with the new government can be found, and if the new leaders will be predisposed to the democratic advancement and eradication of authoritarian mechanisms, there should be room for internal institutional change.

Considering the different political, historical, social and economic backgrounds of Cyprus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as the nature and dynamics of each conflict, it is tough to give a concrete answer as to whether the Cypriot experience applies to these cases.

The significance of international condemnation concerning the repressions of Crimean Tatars and unlawful Russian actions cannot be overstated. There is an urgent need to shed light on these atrocities and gain international recognition to combat them, ensuring human rights adherence decisively.

International law, like any other system, must evolve and adapt to the changing needs and challenges of the world. But it is important to remember that any changes must comply with the basic principles and goals on which international law is based.