Europe
The Syrians in European Limbo
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime brought euphoria to millions of Syrians in exile, but also created political and legal uncertainty. As some European states suspend asylum claims or discuss revoking refugee status, activists are campaigning for temporary return permits that would allow Syrians to reconnect without losing protection.
Europe’s East Turns West
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to many unintended consequences, but none so quick and profound as the consolidation of the Nordic and Baltic regions under the NATO umbrella following Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to the alliance in the past two years.
How AI Became the Far Right’s Newest Weapon Against Refugees
Across Europe, far-right parties are weaponizing generative AI to produce hyperbolic, Islamophobic and anti-refugee visuals that spread rapidly on social media, amplifying disinformation and fueling hostility.
How Central Europe Became the Frontier Between Russia and the West
Historian Luka Ivan Jukić joins New Lines’ Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss his new book, “Central Europe: The Death of a Civilization and the Life of an Idea.”
The Democratic Exclusion Dilemma
As extremist parties like Germany’s AfD and France’s National Rally edge closer to power across Europe, states are weighing bans and disqualifications. But excluding some political actors runs the risk of eroding democracy itself.
Why Kamala Harris Needs a Western Balkans Policy
The Biden administration’s policy of embracing Serbia’s authoritarian leader in an attempt to lure him out of Russia’s orbit has backfired, deepening dangerous fissures in Bosnia. If Kamala Harris is to regain U.S. influence in the region she must reorient Washington’s foreign policy in the Balkans.
Georgia’s Orthodox Bishops Are Fueling a Resurgent Stalin-Worship on TikTok
From Stalin’s purported superpowers to the Georgian patriarch’s alleged ties to the Soviet security services, the reasons for one of the world’s oldest churches taking an interest in reinventing the image of an atheistic, authoritarian communist who massacred millions are as complex as they are bizarre.