This year topic of the Valdai Discussion Club was around the theme of “The Polycentric World: Instructions for Use,” aimed to go beyond merely describing a multipolar world and instead explore how to live in and navigate it.
In this episode, my guest is Jash Dholani, the mind behind The Old Books Guy, whose insights have captivated over 100,000 readers.
Europe has faced many kinds of challenges over the decades, of which demographic change is perhaps the most important over the long-term.
The first round of the French elections delivered a powerful victory to Marine Le Pen and a humiliating defeat for French President Emmanual Macron.
The relationship between the ECHR and the CRPD shows a growing convergence in the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. While not formally bound by the CRPD the ECtHR in some cases refers to it in its judgements, emphasizing the need for procedural accommodations to comply with the requirements enshrined in Article 6 of the ECHR. Landmark cases, such as Stanev v. Bulgaria (2012) highlight the Court’s emphasis on legal capacity and meaningful participation contributing to a coherent human rights framework in Europe.
In July 2024, Viktor Orbán's audacious gamble paid off. The newly formed Patriots for Europe group vaulted to become the third-largest force in the European Parliament, overtaking both the Liberals and the Conservatives. This wasn't just a reshuffling of seats; it was a strategic realignment of the European right, demonstrating that medium-sized states can reshape the political landscape when traditional alliance structures fail to serve their interests. But can this disruptive coalition model deliver tangible results, or is it destined to remain a protest movement on the margins?
In line with the European Union’s push for a unified energy market, Member States are increasingly required to ensure access to interoperable metering data. Energy consumption data must flow seamlessly between consumers, energy companies and digital service providers, forming the cornerstone of demand-response services and fair competition in the common digital energy market.
The legalization of cannabis remains one of the most debated public health policies of the 21st century. As more U.S. states and several European countries reconsider their legal frameworks, the long-term societal, psychological, and economic impacts of these shifts demand careful evaluation.
