Alexis Self
Democracy is a disaster online – but in reality it’s still our best option
Winston Churchill once said that ‘Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.’ And in 2026, this assertion is perhaps more relevant than ever.
The best embassies in the world, from Addis Ababa and Berlin to Singapore and Washington
The case for embassies in the 21st century
Italy’s new London embassy, Casa Italia, is a shining example of soft-power promotion
The newly opened Italian embassy in London makes good use of the country’s cultural prowess as a tool of diplomacy. We take a tour with its ambassador Inigo Lambertini.
Groupe d’études géopolitiques: The chic Parisian think tank championing Europe
A youthful research institute formed by Parisian students offers a confidently pro-European stance in a continent in need of progressive ideas.
Why blocking immigrant entrepreneurs is an act of American economic self-harm
A global theorist considers how immigration fuels entrepreneurship – and how the Trump administration’s visa ban will not only hurt immigrants but the US as a whole.
Three new pieces of military kit outsmarting drones and supply chain bottlenecks
The future of defence is unmanned and aerial. Here are three pieces of military technology that are changing the way that wars are fought – by either neutralising or harnessing drones.
In praise of Sara Wheeler, a clear-sighted laureate of the world’s frozen regions
Sara Wheeler’s immersive work proves the role of travel writer is still essential. Her Arctic dispatches explore what it means to survive, thrive and stay alive.
Opinion
At the Munich Security Conference, amid polite applause and private panic, the western alliance eats itself
6 min read
Europe’s century of humiliation is just beginning. What will it take to reassert itself?
Following 12 months of buffeting and befuddlement, some commentators are now predicting a coming century of humiliation for Europe. In the interests of avoiding such a humbling, there are several things that the vieux…
