6 Jul, 2026
Intro LO: This article uses a smart analogy for describing both sides of the English Channel or fence: a break-up of a relationship between “two” former partners, being the European Union and the UK. The analogy includes a similar scenario as in my recent Bloomberg Opinion blog: a reconciliation after a break-up of twenty years. If you’re still interested in Brexit...
29 Jun, 2026
My first visit to Kenya (2012) was my eye-opener. It is impossible to maintain the European pace of life (eg, busy busy busy) over there. You must adjust or face the consequences. This also explains kiSwahili phrases like hakuna matata (eg, The Lion King), which translates like "no worries" or "no problem". Initially, I did indeed wonder about the African attitude...
25 Jun, 2026
Intro LO: Please find below an excellent and well-balanced Bloomberg Opinion article on Brexit (2020) and the wish of a still-growing majority of Britons to rejoin the European Union. I agree with its conclusion: it's (far) too early for the UK to rejoin the European Union. There are some further relevant considerations, apart from the valid arguments below: the UK...
17 Jun, 2026
On a daily basis, I receive many articles and often from American media (eg, Bloomberg, NYT, WaPo, WSJ). Since several weeks, I have been cancelling several (free) mailing lists because of their European trash talking. Actually, Google AI Overview “agrees” with my view: American media criticism of Europe often stems from political friction and cultural contrast,...
13 Feb, 2026
Volgens Plato (c.427 BC - 347 BC) waren / zijn er 5 staatsvormen: (1) aristocratie (o.a. koningen), (2) timocratie (o.a. militairen), (3) oligarchie (o.a. de rijken), (4) democratie (o.a. het "volk"), en (5) tirannie. Mogelijk valt een theocratie (o.a. Iran, Israel) binnen de staatsvorm timocratie. "De overgang van de ene staatsvorm naar de andere vindt steeds...
9 Feb, 2026
Intro LO: I recommend reading this article by Simon Kuper, one of my favourite FT authors. FT: Trump is Europe’s best enemy yet FT subtitle: Lack of a common foe enfeebled Europe — but not any more By: Simon Kuper Date: 5 February 2026 “It’s an old tenet of political thought that to build a collective identity you need an enemy. An adversary can force your people to...
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