On-The-Ground-Abroad
Protests Against the Housing Crisis Are Sweeping Across Europe: Berliners Are Voicing Their Concerns in the Pollbooths, Not the Streets
The effects of the European housing crisis have rippled across member states in recent months. In Berlin, the Left Party, known as Die Linke, emerged as the leading party after campaigning on a platform promising to reduce housing costs and increase housing socialization. They are now entering negotiations with the SPD and Green Party concerning how to approach their ambitious socialization project.
The Global Fight Against an International Threat – The Italian Mafia
Is The Godfather a myth? In Italy, mafias are established criminal organizations that infiltrate and damage the global economy. Once a local gang, the ‘Ndrangheta has grown to become one of the world’s largest illegal enterprises with an extensive international reach. The I-CAN (Interpol Cooperation Against ‘Ndrangheta) is a diplomatic operation that has systematically dismantled the ‘Ndrangheta and has proven to be an effective tool against transnational organized crimes.
The Election of the First Far-Right State Parliament Speaker in Germany Since WW2: How the AfD is Shifting German Politics
The firewall against the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), has begun to break as the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) shows willingness to enter negotiations with the AfD following the election of Tobias Rausch as Saxony-Anhalt’s parliamentary speaker.
Integration or Exclusion - Italy’s Foreign Student Cap and School Ban on Burqas and Niqabs
In 2026, Italy’s foreign residency population reached 5.56 million people, with Muslims making up 30% of this population. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, ahead of the general election, issued a decree placing a 30% cap on foreign students in primary school, as well as prohibiting burqas and niqabs in school settings. Her policy presents a central question: Do these policies truly support the integration of foreigners, or does it exacerbate the alienation of foreigners from society?
Op-ed: Spain’s Rightward Shift and the Risks it Poses for Democracy
Spain’s far-right party, Vox, reflects a broader rise in nationalist politics across Europe, raising concerns about the long-term implications for democratic institutions.
United States–Spain Dispute Could Test Transatlantic Trade Relations
Spain’s refusal to support United States military operations and increased NATO spending has raised tensions, prompting threats to cut trade and highlighting the role of the European Union in governing economic relations.
Hungary’s Election Could Challenge Europe’s Right-Wing Momentum
Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary election could pose the biggest challenge in years to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, testing whether the country’s long-dominant nationalist government can last.
Beyond the Postcard: The Black Reality of Florence
After a year in Florence, I am reflecting on what it means to be Black in Italy—navigating culture and identity amid a lack of diversity.