A Russian destabilization campaign put Moldova in the news
Maia Sandu, Moldova's pro-E.U. president, is up for reelection this fall.
Good Playlist: Eastern European politics ▶️
An Eastern European politics scholar offers a list of videos to help students understand the region's history.
Ukraine accused Russia of torture. Here’s how to prosecute those crimes.
Ukraine’s allies can use their own courts to investigate war crimes
What to watch for at the 2022 NATO summit
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine complicates discussions of the alliance’s new Strategic Concept
Laibach, ‘NATO’: The Week In One Song
Will Finland and Sweden join NATO?
Putin called fleeing Russians ‘traitors.’ Who’s actually leaving?
Many will be activists in exile, our research suggests
More than 2 million people have already fled the Ukraine conflict. How will they fare in new countries?
If European nations want to welcome these refugees, here’s what they can learn from our research
Even Russian-speaking Ukrainians don’t want to be evacuated to Russia or Belarus
The research shows that Russian speakers across much of Ukraine identify as Ukrainian
NATO can’t send troops to Ukraine. Here is what it will probably do instead.
The security and defense of alliance members that border Russia and Ukraine will be a top priority.
Biden is threatening Putin with European energy sanctions. That may be difficult to pull off.
Europe is counting on a new Russian gas pipeline to alleviate energy shortages
Last month, three drones attacked an Israeli tanker. Here’s why that’s something new.
Will Iran’s ‘shadow war’ slip into the open?
Moldova’s president now has a legislative majority to push through her anti-corruption agenda
Voters in this week’s snap elections were more concerned about graft than geopolitics.
Moldova wants to be more European and less corrupt. Parliament isn’t helping.
President Maia Sandu has had a rocky first 100 days in office.
T. Rex, ‘Monolith’: The Week In One Song
The rise of the monoliths
Moldova’s new president is likely to seek closer ties with Europe. Russia won’t be pleased.
The outgoing president favored a strong relationship with Moscow.
Some European governments acted quickly to fight the pandemic. But not the ones you’d expect.
Here’s why more open governments weren’t as nimble
Why the International Criminal Court will investigate possible U.S. war crimes — even if the Trump administration says it can’t
My research suggests Americans support the investigation
The E.U. is supposed to promote democracy. So why do anti-democratic politicians thrive within it?
Party alliances, subsidies and easy emigration all help soft authoritarians stay in power
Why did Zelensky want a White House visit? Here’s what it signals at home.
U.S. presidents also have a lot to gain from these face-to-face meetings.
30 years after the Berlin Wall fell, some former Soviet-controlled countries are dismantling democracy. What happened?
How did Russia, populism and ‘illiberal democracy’ creep back in?
China celebrates 70 years of communist rule. What explains the resilience of its regime?
In 1989, the Chinese Communist Party survived popular unrest — while Europe’s communist regimes did not.
Here’s what the Russians think about the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from a nuclear arms treaty
[caption id="attachment_79421" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S.
There were huge protests in Romania — but what happens next?
[caption id="attachment_76934" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Riot police use a water cannon
Hungary votes on Sunday. What will this mean for its relationship with Europe?
[caption id="attachment_71839" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Fireworks light up Budapest on May
Could U.N. peacekeepers help end the war in Ukraine?
[caption id="attachment_69959" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Ukrainian troops fire a howitzer close
Is Xi Jinping now a ‘leader for life,’ like Mao?
Here's why this is dangerous.
Why Trump administration officials try so hard to flatter him
[caption id="attachment_67930" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump is accompanied by Vice
Ukrainians are protesting corruption — and using a new approach. Here’s how it works.
[caption id="attachment_67842" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters hold the Ukraine flag and
The odds of a military coup in Venezuela are going up. But coups can sometimes lead to democracy
[caption id="attachment_66271" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man holds the new 100,000-bolivar
Venezuela’s latest elections are likely to trigger a regional migration crisis
On Oct. 15, Venezuelans went to the polls to elect
Will global populism continue to erode democracies?
As we head into election season in Europe, the question
Hungary and Slovakia challenged Europe’s refugee scheme. They just lost badly.
On Wednesday morning, the European Court of Justice turned down
As Trump leaves for Europe, a question looms: Will he really commit to NATO once and for all?
[caption id="attachment_60654" align="aligncenter" width="960"] NATO flags flutter during the final
This is what will happen if Trump brings back secret prisons
[caption id="attachment_53738" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The seal of the CIA is
Worried about NATO? Here are 3 things to watch.
[caption id="attachment_50936" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Dutch soldiers take part in large-scale
This is why authoritarian leaders use the ‘Big Lie’
[caption id="attachment_53133" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Students chant: “Elections now!” during a
Trump may be borrowing Nixon’s ‘back channel’ strategy in his contacts with Russia
News that the president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., met with
Yes, NATO is sharing the defense burden. Here’s what we found.
Since the United Kingdom's “Brexit” referendum in June, European leaders
Everything you need to know about election observers — and why the U.S. needs them
[caption id="attachment_48344" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Voters line up Oct. 20 during
How the European Union built stronger economies and better governments (even if Britain wants to leave)
[caption id="attachment_43680" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this January 15, 1973 file
How Monday’s England-Slovakia soccer match just might influence Brexit
On June 23, U.K. voters will decide whether to leave
No, White House lawyers would not prevent a President Trump from overstepping his constitutional bounds
[caption id="attachment_42060" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)[/caption] A recent New
Did the IMF actually ease up on structural adjustment? Here’s what the data say.
[caption id="attachment_41400" align="alignnone" width="960"] Protesters in the northern Greek port
Things are heating up in eastern Ukraine. Here are three reasons why.
[caption id="attachment_41239" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Members of a volunteer battalion and
Why are some nations’ citizens more likely to cheat on their taxes?
What we found surprised us.
Why Turkey’s authoritarian descent shakes up democratic theory
[caption id="attachment_37754" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers
To establish the rule of law, cut off elites’ purses and power. Here’s how.
[caption id="attachment_37052" align="aligncenter" width="908"] (iStock)[/caption] Western aid agencies and scholars
Some in Eastern Europe are welcoming refugees. Some aren’t. Here’s why.
[caption id="attachment_29658" align="aligncenter" width="1918"] Migrants board a train in Keleti
Some in Eastern Europe are welcoming refugees. Some aren't. Here's why.
[caption id="attachment_29658" align="aligncenter" width="1918"] Migrants board a train in Keleti
Cleaning up politics
[caption id="attachment_27496" align="aligncenter" width="1126"] The degree of state regulation of
The word ‘tax’ is unpopular. But the word ‘fee’ is worse.
[caption id="attachment_23747" align="alignnone" width="620" class="align center"] U.S. Department of the
The word 'tax' is unpopular. But the word 'fee' is worse.
[caption id="attachment_23747" align="alignnone" width="620" class="align center"] U.S. Department of the
People are freaking out about the Trans Pacific Partnership’s investor dispute settlement system. Why should you care?
[caption id="attachment_23129" align="alignnone" width="620"] Union members and community activists protest
People are freaking out about the Trans Pacific Partnership's investor dispute settlement system. Why should you care?
[caption id="attachment_23129" align="alignnone" width="620"] Union members and community activists protest
Multinational war is hard
Things are suddenly moving quickly as various allies start to
Lessons from 25 years of post-communism: the importance of reform, democracy, and geography
[caption id="attachment_11538" align="aligncenter" width="512" special=""] Berliners sing and dance on
The far right in the 2014 European elections: Of earthquakes, cartels and designer fascists
Media reports on far right gains in the 2014 European
Will Thailand's dramatic coup actually fix anything?
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A protester, left, is
Will Thailand’s dramatic coup actually fix anything?
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A protester, left, is
Hey Media! Central and East European countries voted in the European Parliamentary Elections too…
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="POLAND OUT "] Leader of The
Are European parliamentarians responsive to their voters?
Last week about 500 million eligible voters had the opportunity
If Ukraine expropriates Russian firms, other multinationals probably won’t care
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A member of a Ukrainian
Why Eastern Ukraine is an integral part of Ukraine
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Ukrainian students attend a rally
For kin or country: Why the Crimea crisis is not about a Greater Russia project
[caption id="attachment_7525" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] (Sergei Grits/AP)[/caption] R. William Ayres is
The Le Pen-Wilders alliance and the European Parliament: Plus ça change, plus la meme chose
This is a guest post by Cas Mudde, an assistant
Four of the most painfully honest politicians you'll ever meet
[caption id="attachment_4811" align="aligncenter" width="486" special=""] Romanian MP Traian Dobrinescu speaks
Farewell, Manas!
[caption id="attachment_2032" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] (Vladimir Pirogov/Reuters)[/caption] In another milestone
(Not Much) Political Polarization in Europe
A few weeks ago, in the course of describing a
When the Incumbent is the Target: Corruption Arrests in the Czech Republic
The following is a guest post from Vincent Post, a PhD
How Do You Know If Someone is Gay?
As the U.S. Supreme Court is getting ready to consider
Post-Election Report 2012 Romanian Parliamentary Elections: How Much of a “Mandate” Does it Really Represent?
Continuing our series of election reports, the following post-election report is
Request for Election Reports Authors
Some exciting news regarding our Election Reports series: we have
Post-Election Report: Romanian’s Presidential Impeachment Referendum, and a Request for Help in Identifying Potential Fraud
The following is a guest post from Princeton political scientist
Support for Gay Marriage in Europe and the US
Gregory Lewis' post on state public opinion towards gay marriage
The Culture Wars Go Global
Clifford Bob has a new book out this week called
Serbia and the EU
I have an "op-ed today":http://www.tnr.com/article/world/89437/ratko-mladic-serbia-european-union-croatia-euro at "The New Republic":http://www.tnr.com/ in
Similarities and Differences between Eastern Europe in 1989 and the Middle East in 2011
We are pleased to have another guest post from Marc
Is Bahrain the next Andijan, Uzbekistan?
The "NY Times is reporting":http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/world/middleeast/18bahrain.html the following from Bahrain: bq.
A Quick Response to Mubarak Leaving: Why Do Protests Ever Bring Down Governments?
In light of the "rumored coming resignation of Egyptian President
What Eastern Europe teaches us about Egypt: Short Term Optimism and Medium Term Pessimism
I am pleased to welcome back frequent Monkey Cage contributor
State of the World: Will 2011 be the next 1989?
I'm guessing that by now most readers of politics related
So the greatest political change in the Middle East this century is not Beirut 2005 or Teheran 2009, but Tunis, 2011?
More on Tunisia: a guest post by "Professor Scott Radnitz":http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Wealthy-Predatory-Elite-Led-Protests/dp/0801449537
Who Should Lead a Multipolar World?
Below is another guest post from the formidable James Vreeland
Southern European Syndrome
As American once again debates the significance of a "House
2009 Romanian Presidential Elections
We are pleased to present post-election analysis of 2009 Romanian
Election Reports and Political Science: Update
A little more than a month ago I announced a
Election Reports and Political Science
One of the goals of the Monkey Cage is to