Tag Archives: politics

What will Klaus do next?

Posted on 2 January 2013 by

What will Václav Klaus do next? This has been a pertinent question in Czech politics pretty much any time over the last twenty years and, of course, no more so than now: VK steps down from his second and final … Continue reading →

Posted in centre-right, Czech politics, Czech Republic, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Europe as antipolitics machine

Posted on 24 October 2012 by

The customers in this Westminster café seem a strange mix of  suited civil servants and builders in boots and hi-vis. But it’s worth the early start and the cup of industrial strength tea to beat a path back to the … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, EU politics, Ireland, protest, W European politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A spectre of … something is haunting Europe

Posted on 18 October 2012 by

Photo: Tom Morris, via Wikicommons  At 8.30am I am sitting in a thinktank seminar on ‘subterranean politics’ in Europe.  At 8pm I am sitting in launch event for a book about populism in Europe and the America. It is a … Continue reading →

Posted in populism, protest, Uncategorized, W European politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Schwarzenberg: From castle to Castle?

Posted on 20 October 2011 by

And no sooner do I post on Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg at Chatham House than he decides to make waves in Czech domestic politics by announcing that he will be a candidate for the Czech Presidency, when Václav Klaus … Continue reading →

Posted in Czech politics, Czech Republic, TOP09, Václav Havel, Václav Klaus | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Poland’s elections: Eyes down

Posted on 22 September 2011 by

As in 2007 Poland’s parliamentary elections in two weeks are being followed mainly as a battle between the (now incumbent) liberal Civic Platform (PO) and the conservative-national Law and Justice (PiS), which despite modest electoral revival has been on the … Continue reading →

Posted in liberalism, Poland, populism, protest | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Can you recommend a good book on Czech politics?”

Posted on 8 September 2011 by

No trouble. I’m always happy to help people working on CEE politics, especially our former research students. And forecasting and analysis for real world organisations concerned with political risk is always an interesting challenge. But then I rather hesitate. Trouble … Continue reading →

Posted in Book review, communism and post-communism, Czech politics, political science | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Something wholesome in the state of Denmark?

Posted on 2 September 2011 by

Recently I’ve been sitting up red-eyed, late into night hooked on something I just can’t kick. The habit just grew me and before I knew it I was blowing large sums of money to feed my addiction. Don’t worry though, … Continue reading →

Posted in crime fiction, Sweden | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment