Europe Revisited | Spring Edition 2018/19

IN THIS EUROPE & FUSION AND SPRING NEO- ENERGY MUCH EDITION: COLONIALISM TECH MORE!

TEAM head: Simon Pompé co-head: Michael Keith editing supervisor: Ella Goemans art director: Steff Nagel journalists (in alphabetical order):

Chirine Chalak Kodie Chontos Ceren Cingi Dan Edwards Ella Goemans Julia Hönnecke Greta Koch Matthijs Lenaerts Mowgli Legein Gaia Lisi Caroline Lurz Nadine Meertens Steff Nagel Kavya Narayanan Amelie Ohler Mia Penn Charlie Pion Simon Pompé Samantha Scarpa Ferraglio

Marie-Sophie Silan Stella Theocharidou Cover: Steff Nagel Spring Edition Copyrighted 2019

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Simon’s note

EDITORIAL

Dear friends, Thank you for taking the time to read our second printed Edition, this time under the header Europe Revisited. After our last edition ‘Humanity 2.0’, we zoom in on the continent. The European topic is undeniably timely.

For one, the European Elections 2019 are just around the corner, which is bringing our transnational polity closer to the minds of the European citizens. Here in Maastricht, the impact is sure to be felt. Brexit, too, will have its lasting effects on the EU. But these topics are omnipresent in the news, and while we appreciate European coverage, in this edition we wanted to focus on underreported and underrepresented sections in the European sphere. We hope you learn something new this way. Similarly, we put special attentions on the regional diversity of Europe and hope to have shed light on many curious and unique corners of this old rock. Be ready to encounter strong student opinions, hot takes and unique debates. However, just as Europe benefits from its immensely diverse peoples, we believe that all civil discourse can only grow and learn from non-conformist and contradictory opinions. We hope you enjoy this edition!

If you want to read more of our our analyses and student opinions, scan our QR-code below!

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5 Travel Tips Five amazing places to visit.

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Pride & Corruption An interview with two Bulgarian students.

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Monsters of Europe

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The Macedonian question

the folklores of Europe?

over the use of a name.

People vs. the State

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Quo Vadis, Kosovo What happened in Kosovo after 1999.

Neo-Colonialism

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Swiss Design

Our foreign policy may not

How design from 70 years ago

have the desired outcomes.

shaped our magazine.

Fusion or Fizzle

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What would Marx say The Modern Left and Euroscepticism.

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Istanbul, through me

Are we at the brink of a new diplomat.unsamaastricht.org

era of energy production?

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More than a name

Is there a connection between

is taking on a new form.

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Edges of Europe

Is Europe really in a deep ‘peace’?

The Climate Change debate

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E-stonia The most connected country in Europe.

Organ Donors The state of modern organ

See the city through the eyes of

donation within Europe.

our reporter.

Photography

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Europe’s Best A playlist with 28 songs from our 28 Member States.

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Experience Europe: MD Travel Tips Amelie Ohler Stella Theocharidou

What is your favourite city in Europe? Is it London, Paris or Milan? These three destinations were by far the most popular in Europe for tourists last year. However, in case you have a desire to discover a new place with a student budget, maybe it is time to think a little bit outside of the box. In light of this printed edition being about “Europe”, we asked students from Maastricht University for a place they would personally recommend visiting on our lovely and diverse continent.

Therefore, if you have no plans for the summer yet and you don’t wish to follow the masses: here are some ideas.

1. Dubrovnik

Whoever is remotely familiar with Game of Thrones, must know this beautiful medieval town.

Dubrovnik is in the south of Croatia and is one the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It can be quite expensive for a student budget, but it is nevertheless worth visiting. One suggestion from us is to take the Game of Thrones Tour (if you are a fan), because not only doyou see the shooting sites of the show, but you learn a lot about Dubrovnik’s history as well.

In the summertime the city also gives the visitor lots of opportunities to swim in its crystal-clear Mediterranean waters. For those who like nature, a nearby place worth visiting is the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a medieval city with Ottoman influences situated on the river Neretva. The river ends into a delta and it has the second biggest bird collection in Europe. We suggest taking a photo safari organized by tour companies in local traditional boats through the canals which are decorated with water lilies most of the time. Other fun activities in the area are water sports, with kitesurfing being a good choice, as it hasgreat winds during the summertime. Of course, at the end of the day one cannot miss out on “brodet”, a local delicacy which consists of a stew based on eels and frogs, but remember, always with a glass of homemade rakija!

2. Gdańsk

This charming Polish city on the Baltic coast is often overlooked by travellers, but it is worth a visit for many reasons. One of them is that the town has significant history. In short: for centuries, there were conflicts as to whether Gdańsk was to be considered Polish, German or even a “free town.” In 1939, the first battles of World War II began here, which is why today, there is a highly recommended museum about the effects of the war on Poland. Additionally, in 1980, the Solidarity Trade Union Movement, which ultimately led to the downfall of the communist rule in Poland, began just outside Gdańsk. Due to this, the European Solidarity Center illustrates the background of the Polish opposition to the communist rule. But don’t worry, Gdańsk is not only fascinating for history geeks. Its old town has stunning architecture and is famous for its colourful houses, shops and restaurants. Most of these are along the “Long Street,” which used to be a royal route for visiting Kings of Poland, leading from one city gate to the other. In the summer, you can even go the beach and swim in the Baltic sea. When in Gdańsk, don’t forget to check out for instance the Mandu Restaurant, where you can try “Pierogi,” the famous Polish dumplings.

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3. Heraklion

T R AV E L

Heraklion is the capital city of Crete, the largest island of Greece. Its mild temperature makes it a great place to visit all year round. With direct flights from Maastricht, Heraklion is very accessible and student budget friendly for all. Greeks call the city “little Athens” and it’s not far from the truth, since it is a very lively place; full of students who like to have fun all night long, since there is a large variety of bars. However, for those who are looking for a more “productive” time on the island, Heraklion makes a great base for day trips across the island. For history buffs, one major point of interest is the ruins of Knossos, which apart from being the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on the island and being considered Europe’s oldest city, also hosts the grand palace of King Minos. Additionally, you can make a day trip to the island of Spinalonga, which was one of the last leper colonies of Europe from 1903 to 1957. But no worries, it’s safe now. In Heraklion, one can visit the aquarium, the neighbouringvillages and beaches, walk around and see the beautiful Venetian buildings. Furthermore, there is the city of Chania, which is on the other side of the island and many parts of the area are untouched by tourists, which makes it even more beautiful. For fans of nature and extremesports, the area gives many opportunities with the White Mountains and Lake Kournas. Chania is also very famous amongst birdwatchers who visit the area to get a glimpse of the golden eagle and the lammergeier.

4. Toulouse

French people call this city “la ville rose” (pink city) because most of its buildings are built in some shade of pink brick. Toulouse is a marvellous town which you will find to be not as expensive, not as big and not as rushed as Paris. It has a very strategic location: both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic sea are just over an hour away. Additionally, for those who like hiking or skiing, the Pyrenees are a great option for a day trip. Most likely, however, you will not even want to leave the inner city of Toulouse, because the fourth largest city of France has a wonderful old town, many markets, squares and cultural offers. Since the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela passes through Toulouse, there is the largest remaining Romanesque building of Europe, the Basilique de Saint Sernin. You can take a walk along the river Garonne and the Canal du Midi, which together build a connection between the two seas. We recommend taking a boat trip in the beautiful area around Toulouse on the Canal du midi. Since there is a large student population, there are many cafés and bars where you get an impression of the French nightlife. An idea for a day-time attraction is the space museum, which is an interactive theme park with many interesting exhibitions. During your trip, keep an ear open for the people around you: “Toulousain” is considered by many to be the sexiest accent in France.

5. Utrecht

Lots of international students, when thinking of going somewhere else in the Netherlands, immediately come up with Amsterdam. While Amsterdam is quite nice, there are other places worth visiting in the country as well. An example is the city of Utrecht, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Here one can see traditional Dutch buildings dating back to the High Middle Ages which make up most of the architecture. Utrecht is home to the largest university in the Netherlands, which means that young people make up most of the population. In Utrecht there are a lot of places to hang out, one of them is the Bloemenmarkt, yes, the flower market. It is simply beautiful on a chill Saturday afternoon, come on, imagine strolling through the tulips with a cup of hot cocoa! Another suggestion that we have for you, is the Cafe Olivier, a Belgian beer bar in a 19th century former hidden Catholic church. Furthermore, being located fairly in the middle of the country, the city makes a perfect place to take small trips to neighbouring towns like Leiden, Gouda or The Hague.

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INTERVIEW

BETWEEN

PRIDE & CORRUPTION Bulgaria, a brilliant past and a hopeful future

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Marie-Sophie Silan

met Silvya and Svetlana on a rainy afternoon, in a cosy coffee place near the Vrijthof. They both study European Law at Maastricht University and come from the Republic of Bulgaria. A Member State of the EU since 2007, Bulgaria is a Balkan country with a tremendous past and rich culture, but that keeps struggling with corruption at all levels of society and is consequently deserted by its youth. When I told them what I wanted to write about, Silvya and Svetlana had to laugh. “Usually, no one is interested in Bulgaria”, they said. Let’s hope the following interview sheds a small, new light on this fascinating country and its people.

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Svetlana: However, our grandparents would not see things that way. Under the communist regime, everyone had a job but there wasn’t any freedom of expression. Besides, all people Silvya: I come from Plovdiv, the second biggest were outwardly equal, although we know city in Bulgaria after Sofia, the capital. I studied today that real equality didn’t exist. the Law in Germany and decided to move to another country to major in European Law. My Silvya: The country was supposed to be selfcousin, who had also studied in Maastricht and sufficient, which was unsustainable. People liked the PBL system, encouraged me to apply. lacked the most basic products. For example, stores didn’t sell toilet paper.

Svetlana: I come from a middle-sized town located 30 kilometres away from Sofia and What were the good consequences which was famous for its mines in the 1980s. of the accession?

I did my Master’s in Law at the University of Sofia and also passed exams to receive a Svetlana: The working conditions improved certification in Network Engineering. I started significantly, and many projects and businesses working in the legal field before looking were able to apply for new sources of financing, for a new Master programme. I had never which helped them grow and expand. lived abroad and was eager to. Maastricht Silvya: Moreover, thanks to European University, with its excellent ranking and the funds, we could better preserve our cultural good reputation of its professors, impressed heritage, something the government had never me. sufficiently invested in.

Where do you come from? Why did you decide to study at Maastricht University?

How was Bulgaria’s accession to the EU in 2007 received by the population?

Svetlana: If it was not for the EU, I could neither study in Maastricht nor find a job in the rest of the continent.

Svetlana: To understand the background of the accession to the EU, we ought to go back in time a little bit. Silvya and I were born just after the fall of the Soviet Union. When we were babies, the country had entered an important transitional period. The new regime was a form of democracy, even though not entirely operational yet. The country’s economic situation was bad and I recall it as a very difficult time for our parents; at least in the beginning.

And the bad ones?

homeless. He had been fired after refusing to take part in this system.

Svetlana: At the lowest level, corruption occurs when someone is caught driving too fast on the highway and bribes the cops to get away with it.

Silvya: It is a global phenomenon in which half of the country is stuck, which is why people cannot help themselves. For me, however, the worst form of corruption is that affecting the medical staff of hospitals. Doctors are underpaid and constantly asked to look after

“Usually, no one is interested in Bulgaria.

more patients than they are able to. So, if you want a doctor to examine and take care of you or your sick parent in a timely manner, you Silvya: The biggest problem is the must pay him and give him presents. This is misappropriation of the funds Bulgaria forced corruption, because one is dragged into receives from the EU. They partially end up it without being willing to. in the hands of politicians or other influential people and therefore, some of the projects Are you planning to go back to they are meant to support are never achieved. Bulgaria to work?

Plovdiv, my city, had received significant financial help to build a zoo, but part of the Svetlana: First, I would like to work abroad money mysteriously vanished. The mayor was to gain valuable experience. But in the long suspected, prosecuted and eventually released run, I would like to go back, either to work in a Silvya: The negotiations to join the EU started for lack of evidence, or so they said. And he got company or to start running my own business. at about this time. The king’s son, who had his position back.

Silvya: This is a sensitive topic for me, fled to Spain after his father - the former king, because going back always stays in the back Svetlana: The cheap price of Bulgarian labour who was deposed by the Communists and mysteriously murdered - came back to Bulgaria is a second issue, mostly for foreign companies. of my mind. However, right now, the economic and political situation in Bulgaria remains and played a role in it. During the same period, dissatisfactory. I often think that if all educated What kinds of people are the groups of mobsters formed to take advantage Bulgarian people living abroad gathered forces of this new, quite unstable situation. I have a Bulgarians? and set up a new political party, it could bring relative who vanished for twenty years, and we the change the country needs.

Silvya: Friendly and family-oriented. were convinced he had been murdered by one of those groups, which eventually was not the Bulgarian people are warm who openly talk about their feelings. case.

After saying goodbye to Silvya and Svetlana, I Svetlana: After all that had happened, joining Svetlana: Moreover, we love our country and kept thinking about Bulgaria’s incredible past, the EU was an event everyone, except older we feel strongly connected to it. We are proud which I would now like to know more about, folks that still voted for the national communist of its heritage and achievements. For example, and about its uncertain future. I’m wondering party, was joyful about. It proved that the traditional music is still highly appreciated. what the EU, for instance, could do to help country was finally going in the right direction. Silvya: We are also proud of our history. We free this country from corruption or if the Silvya: I was only 14 when the accession took were oppressed by the Ottoman Empire for change, like Silvya suggested it, will have to place, but I clearly remember my parents being 500 years and in spite of that, we managed to come from within. In the meantime, and for the best, young Bulgarians in search of better very excited about it. They had always been preserve our religion, culture, language. opportunities have started conquering Europe. pro-EU, like most Bulgarians nowadays.

Bulgaria has struggled with From what I’ve seen, they are indeed warm, corruption for years. What form talented and generous people, with a true sense Was this enthusiasm connected of friendship and family. I wish them all the does it take? to a rejection of the country’s best. communist past?

Silvya: Corruption occurs at all levels of power within society, from the government, through Svetlana: To some extent; absolutely. the mayors, to the police officers. For example, Silvya: From our point of view, this period judges are corrupted. They take decisions didn’t bring Bulgaria anything good. Socialism according to the interest of the person paying was a capsule in time, a disrupter in the course them. I did an internship in a law office and crossed path with a former judge who was of the country’s development.

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MONSTERS Nadine Meertens

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IN THE DARK

CULTURE

“Pay heed to the tales of old wives.

It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know.” - J. R. R. Tolkien

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magine a creature with the head of a blueeyed man, the auburn body of a lion and the stinging tail of a scorpion. It has three rows of teeth like a shark and feeds of human flesh. This is how the Greek author Ctesias described the legendary Manticore in the 5th century BC. He chronicled this being in a book about Asia. Another source for many creatures from legends we still know today is the Greek Pliny the Elder. He too spoke of creatures in far off lands, things that in that time sounded so strange people could hardly believe they existed. For example the giraffe, elephant and the salamander. He consulted many sources, such as Aristotle to piece together his many natural history books. But he also gave a wider audience to some more fantastical stories, mostly centred around areas outside of the civilised world of that day, speculating about what might be roaming out there in far off lands. Some of these creatures actually turned out to be real, but as not all the sources he used were entirely credible, some of his creatures do not actually exist. But that does not mean that these made-up creatures have not inspired many legends and stories to this day. However, not all of the creatures he describes are still remembered today. But one that certainly is; the Monoceros, it had the body of a horse, the head of a stag, the feet of an elephant, the tail of a boar and a black horn in the centre of its head. This might not sound very familiar but in today’s English the word Monoceros refers to a one-horned creature, a unicorn you might say. He also spoke of a range of humanoid creatures, like monopods and Blemmys in Africa.

These works by the ancient Greeks show an inclination of folklore to speculate about, and dread the foreign and unknown. The humanoid creatures Pliny describes bring to mind the adventures described in Gulliver’s travels

by Jonathan Swift. But folklore does not only speculate about unknown places and lands, it goes far beyond the books and works of some ancient Greeks. Europe knows many legendary tales that arose from a fear of something much

closer, as a warning for a danger that was lurking out here, not in some far off country.

Of all legendary beasts roaming out there in the dark, one of the most integrated in today’s pop culture has a much older origin than one might assume. The dead, have risen out of their graves, to suck the blood out your loved ones. Or, perhaps even more terrifying, they will resemble Robert Pattinson and sparkle in the sun. The vampire, as we know it today, can be traced back to the work of Bram Stoker (Dracula), who in turn was inspired by several things for his work, one being a story that finds its origin in the Baltic, in Romania specifically. This is the story of the Strigoi, they were the reanimated corpses of the dead, who also had the ability to shapeshift. They gained their vitality from the blood of their victims. Their prefered prey was rumoured to be infants and all other weaker people.

The legend came with many superstitions of how you could become a Strigoi and how the Strigoi should be dealt with. While vampires have now become either joke of fantasm, it makes us wonder how such a legend came to be. Why did this legend arise, what is it that we as a society were so scared of? Stories of vampire-like creatures were more common in the Baltics but all over Europe there were stories that strongly resemble it. What were we all so afraid of? The answer to this according to some authors is actually reasonably simple: diseases and the contegation of diseases. The vampire, or Strigoi as a plague-carrier with a specific focus also behind Stoker’s book being Consumption (Tuberculosis). All over Europe stories of dead rising and contaminating others have arisen over time, because the spread of diseases is a rather universal fear. Today we have more knowledge on the spread of diseases like Tuberculosis and even ways of curing it, but in that time the legends played a significant role in how people viewed these things.

But the creatures looming in the dark might not always represent something we fear, they can also fulfill another role. For instance, the Germanic myth of the ‘Witte Wieven’, in English White Women, but the Irish word Banshee also fits the bill. These were the ghost of wise women who could be seen in the fog at night wandering near their grave. Originally the role they played was that of wise women, guiding those in need, but after the middle ages they gained a darker connotation. They still occasionally helped those in need, and they kept their often mischievous character, but their deeds became much darker and harmful to anyone who came near their resting place at night.

But if we ignore some of the sexism behind

this change and the influence of Christianity on pagan myth and consider the original version of the White Women then we see the true reason for their existence. This story served as a comfort in a way, the wise women of the village weren’t completely gone, they are still out there underneath a hill guiding us from afar.

However, the idea of the ‘dead’ guiding us from afar is more commonly seen as a bad thing. A fear of death is a natural thing, but at the same time death is a natural part of life.

This fear of death has led to many characters in stories finding ways of avoiding death altogether. But these character are often to be feared because of their unnatural escape from the way of life. Take the Slavic character of Koschei the deathless. He is the antagonist of many slavic tales, in which his intriguing way of staying alive is explored. His path to immortality can best be described as an inspiration behind Voldemort in Harry Potter. Koschei cast a spell which hid his soul in nested objects (horcruxes) that were nestled in each other like a matryoshka doll (a needle, inside an egg, inside a duck …). One element that this story can be seen to reflect on is that death is natural.

Immortality is not only unattainable, but more importantly not desirable.

The stories we all grew up hearing as children, and will hopefully continue to tell our children for generations to come, don’t always arise in fear of unknown lands and places. They can also be reflections on that which is already near us, often unavoidable even, but that we still fear as a society. Things like diseases that are especially contagious to the young and weak, become almost mystical and are warned for through the telling of tales of vampires and other undead beings. Folktales can comfort us, telling us that those who are dead are still with us in spirit. Or that your child is not dead but simply with the fairies. But at the same time they illustrate that death is a natural part of life. Stories warn children of dangers that they might encounter in life, or force morally correct behaviour on us through means of fear in the case of the German Krampus. They go beyond the far off distant places that Pliny aimed to describe. Especially in a continent like Europe with so many of our folktales still recorded and known, it is a historical goldmine. A story can show what we as a society are afraid of, what we warn against and what is still unknown to us.

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E

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ost of us have heard of the 2018 IPCC report on climate change, highlighting the impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C. However, if we continue to live as we do now, by 2100 we might witness an increase of the global temperature of 5°C. That would entail summer temperatures reaching 50°C in Western Europe, a 50% decrease of agricultural returns, lack of water and hundreds of millions of people being forced to migrate. Yes, we’ve all heard of this report and many of us were shocked and decided to do what we could i.e. starting to recycle, limiting their plastic or meat consumption, using a drinking bottle to stop buying plastic ones etc.

The first reaction we have is to think about changing our daily life and be more careful. For years, we have been told to recycle at school.

For years, our parents screamed at us from the other side of the house to turn off the lights. For years, we got out of burning showers quickly (although we would’ve wanted to stay in for hours) to save water. As the saying goes, it is through thousands of little actions that we make great change. The saying in theory is wonderful. But in reality, although it has its influence, it is not enough. These are the words that echoed all across the European continent since October 2018 and the publication of the IPCC report. It is not enough if citizens are the only ones to take the responsibility and take the step to redress the climatic issue. It is not enough to ensure the future generations’ lives on this Earth, on our Earth.

The EU’s official announcements concerning its implication and objectives regarding this environmental issue state that it puts the prevention of dangerous climate change as one of its main goals. The Commission emphasizes its importance, surrounding the reduction of greenhouse emissions, as well as its willingness to bring other governments around the world to follow their steps. But as many times before, beautiful promises and great speeches do not necessarily see the light of day. Since 2014, the greenhouse emissions did not cease to grow in Europe, despite the objectives settled by the EU and the different Conferences of the Parties. Furthermore, the most polluting sectors; namely the construction sector, intensive rearing, transport and the oil industry refrain from taking part in the global effort of people and prefer to stick to a wall of lobbyists and lawyers to protect their interests.

The IPCC report of October 2018 can therefore be seen as the last straw, which gave birth to a new movement that we today call the Green Revolution. In Belgium, the Youth for Climate marches gather thousands of students and children every Thursday in the streets, which started in January. From the start of 2019, the same phenomena spread all over Europe. In Sweden, the fifteen-year-old Greta Thundberg started a school strike to sit in front of the Swedish government and became the leading face of all these student movements that sprouted and spread across Europe. Youth is standing for the future, showing politicians that

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something must be done quickly. On the 15th of March, Europe had seen the greatest global strike for climate ever organised by students, academics and workers. Maastricht was one of the cities in which the demonstration has taken place, gathering the international community of students, teachers and ‘Maastrichtenaren’ for a common cause: our planet.

Constitution, there is an Environmental Charter and it is the State’s responsibility to respect it.

They are not asking for the moon, only for the French government to respect the laws they passed and agreed upon. This innovative way to make a change is part of a global movement; similar actions have been taken in Sweden, Ireland, the US and Germany. All of them are driven by the example of the Netherlands However, given the global scale of the problem where Urgenda, a similar environmental assowe’re facing, will that be enough? ciation, won the case against the State in front of the Court of The Hague in 2015.

In December 2018 in France, four associations decided to take a bigger step and launched a If we look at all these levels of actions aiming to new, original movement called “L’Affaire du save the planet: starting with our daily actions Siècle”, or “The case of the century”. Their to student demonstrations and legal procedures idea? Very simple: sue the French state for against government. We see that everything inaction to combat climate change. Yes, you takes time and is delayed by reluctant politics, read that right. They argue that for years now, long trials, lobby influence… Don’t you think politicians in France kept emphasizing the we have reached a crossroad? The current politimportance of conservation of the environ- ical system seems like a wall that blocks the ment and many laws and policies have been way to go further to sort out this crisis. voted and passed. However, when looking at Throughout history, political systems were concrete actions and decisions, experts were revised after every major crisis, either because quite disappointed. This is why Oxfam France, of wars or revolutions. But aren’t we facing Greenpeace, La Fondation pour la Nature and a new type of global crisis today? Climate l’Homme, and Notre Affaire à Tous decided change is not a situation that could be solved to act. In order to have more legitimacy, they by only one country, nor several governments started by launching a petition after sharing a at the same time. We are now facing a ticking video featuring many famous French artists. bomb that leaves no place for individual and The petition was a huge hit and 1.8 million self-centred thinking. Today, everything in the people signed it in only 7 days. Today, it has world surrounding us tends to be global; from reached 2.3 million signatures. the Internet to transport or the economy. Even

knowledge is globalized nowadays. Indeed, it Before bringing the case in front of the can be easily spread everywhere in the world Administration Court of Paris, an ultima- thanks to the general ways of thinking that are tum was given to the State to give a response turned towards the global world rather than to these accusations. On February 13th, the staying focused on a more regional scale. Our French Minister of Ecological and Solidary old system seems to have become obsolete Transition responded by writing a 10 pages let- to deal with the global crisis that is climate ter stating that France was one of the lowest change. Isn’t it time to have the courage to emitters in Europe, that Macron’s government leave the comfort zone we live in? Isn’t it time has the most ambitious climate goals and that to work together to build a new future? What if all European and International commitments the Green Revolution is the sparkle that ignites are correctly implemented in France. The change in Europe and the world? next day, the movement replied again: this is not enough. Yes, France’s goals are ambitious, but the actions are non-existent. How is France supposed to reach ‘Carbon neutrality’ by 2025 when carbon emissions have increased since 2017? Regarding European commitments, what about the EU Directive on Energy Efficiency? The directive is not respected in France and the Commission just started an infringement procedure against the French state for non-compliance to European law.

Overall, the movement was not satisfied with the Minister’s responses and decided to go through and bring the case to Court. On what grounds you ask? Well, in the French

THE CASE OF THE CENTURY Chirine Chalak Charlie Pion

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Are we the Good GuysTM? Europe and Neo-Colonialism Simon Pompé

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E

uropean Foreign policy is not a salient issue in public discourse. Most citizens of the European Union’s member states are not even aware of the fact that there is such a thing. What dominates the news in domestic politics are the actions that national leaders and foreign ministries take. However, EU officials and politicians are doing their best to portray the stance of member states as common and unified; if Brussels had its way, the EU would act on all matters of foreign policy with one voice. In their mind, this would empower European states greatly on the international stage. Since national security interests, vis-avis Russia or NATO for example, are one of the most sensitive issues for states, this is still utopian - with one exception. One of the prime achievements of pro-European politicians of the last two decades is unifying a common trade policy for all member states. Since the European market is united, Brussels principally negotiates all trade matters between the entire EU and partner countries. Remember the widely-publicised TTIP controversy in 2015 and 2016 around the not-so negotiations between EU and US, for example?

It is precisely in this domain that the EU has been accused of the crime of perpetrating Neo-Colonialism against former colonial states and other developing countries. Simply put, critics see the economic relationships between the European West, countries South of the Mediterranean, and in the Middle East as asymmetric, where the Europeans dominate and exploit the others.

How much merit does this accusation have? And what exactly does the term NeoColonialism entail?

Consider the economic weight of the EU. The Union is the biggest consumer market in the world, and if taken together, European countries constitute the world’s second biggest export and import power globally. This carries implications for the economic health of its neighbours, too. Access to European markets is attractive and determines many neighbouring countries’ foreign policy in the East and South.

The EU too, has a way of making use of its trade power to further its foreign policy goals.

And not always in a squeaky-clean way.

Essentially, European trade power is used in a way to coerce and manipulate third party countries into following suit. Thus, trade power becomes a weapon in the hands of Brussels, which lacks the traditional foreign policy power of national states like military command.

This trade weapon primarily takes the form of trade deals with Eastern European and Maghreb countries. In these so-called Association Agreements, the EU principally promises access to its powerful markets in turn for democratic and human rights reforms in partner countries. This is called the principle of conditionality and makes intuitive sense.

The approach originated in the nineties, after the Treaty of Maastricht founded the EU of today. Politicians and civil servants were captured in a euphoric vision of the post-Cold War world and foresaw the EU as a normative power that counterbalances the imperialistic realpolitik of the US, China, and later Russia.

It turns out that this ambition was downgraded.

These trade agreements are not as effective nor as genuine as the EU lingo portrays them to be.

In reality, the clauses within the Association Agreements foreseeing democratic reform are not essential parts of the trade agreement, i.e. not enforceable. Partner countries can ignore these provisions and still trade with the EU. Look at Morocco, for example, which is trapped in a decidedly authoritarian system, but still enjoys close ties with the EU. Moldova, too, has made little progress in reforming its corruption and institutional problems, but trade deals are intact, although to a lesser extent than those with Morocco. These are just two examples that show that trade is not conjoined with human rights betterment.

The reason for this is the geopolitical and commercial interest of the European bloc, and this is where the accusation of Neo-Colonialism begins.

Again, let us examine the Moroccan example.

The Maghreb country sitting to the South of Spain has long been a poster child of European foreign policy, where the relative stability and prosperity was the cause for much self-congratulating of European officials and handshakes with King Mohammed VI. Make no mistake, Morocco was, and still is, a repressive regime with a brutal police and socioeconomic repression, no matter how well it compares to others in the region. The EU loves working with the Moroccan government, because Morocco is positioned in a vital geostrategic location. One example for this is migration, as routes for migrants and refugees passed through the country to Spanish enclaves. Faced with domestic pressure, European politicians and Brussels are eager to have Morocco deal with that situation as decisively as possible. Other interests are the fishing and agricultural products that European markets need.

The EU cooperates with regimes, like the Moroccan one, because they need them to stabilise their region, protecting their interest.

What exactly makes this Neo-Colonial?

One example is the European response to the Arab Spring revolts in 2011 and 2012. There, the EU was more than cautious about voicing its support for the undoubtedly democratic movement. The reason was because democratic revolt is still civil unrest. Civil unrest leads to instability, leads to less tight responses on for example migration, leads to domestic problems for Spain, and so forth. When the EU finally did acknowledge the protesters, it afterwards jumped on the King’s reform program, welcoming it as meaningful and responsive, even though the measures were utterly meaningless

POLITICS

regarding labour standards, parliamentary empowerment and police brutality. They bettered the life of people to such a little degree that they came close to revolting again in 2017.

The EU, however, rewarded the King’s fake policies with more money, more trade benefits and more diplomatic acknowledgement.

Another example is the economic sphere. Yes, partner countries like Morocco gain access to European exports and imports, but see their agricultural products being stopped from flooding the European market. The reason is that countries like Poland or France with strong agricultural sectors do not want to see their advantage threatened by low-priced, low-cost labour products. This is European protectionism, plain and simple.

The situation is mirrored in Eastern Europe, but there, geopolitical competition with Russia is the priority, rather than migration. Countries like Ukraine or Moldova are essentially being bought with trade deals so that they remain within the European sphere of influence and not turn to Russia for benefits, maintaining the EU’s international standing.

So, if the EU prioritises stability over democratic reform, economic benefit over shared prosperity and geopolitics over norms and values, is the accusation of Neo-Colonialism not justified? Does the EU not exploit its neighbours in a similar way as the colonial powers did?

The answer is yes, the accusations stands.

But like everything, it is a matter of degree and nuance.

The EU can hardly be blamed for seeking a stable neighbourhood. Afterall, migration does need to be handled, and instability can disrupt domestic European politics greatly. This article does not so much criticise the European practice as it seeks to expose the gap between what the EU says and what it does. This discrepancy is criminally underreported, since national foreign policy takes the centre stage more often.

Citizens need to be informed about the nature of the EU’s sources of wealth and diplomatic might.

When you read Association Agreements, they sound like democratic battle cries. When officials step before the press, they emphasise European values and norms all the time, particularly the parliament. Europe has the ambition to be the Good Guy in the world. But it turns out, that to survive in this world, you have to get your hands dirty. If anything, Brussels should be more honest in that it accepts shortcomings in the human rights and democracy departments when dealing with other countries.

Because if it does not, civil society and national politicians will pick up on the hypocrisy and utilise the deficiencies and realities of EU politics for their own political gain. And that, too, would not be fair.

13

SCIENCE

O FUSI

R E L Z Z I F ith

l Ke e a h ic

M

14

C

lean and renewable energy in an age of catastrophic climate change; this sounds nice, but how are we to achieve it? Commonly thought of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, offer some solutions but cannot keep up with the current consumer demand for energy. A similar problem goes for geothermal and hydroelectric power, known for being the most powerful sources of renewable energy in the world, are location specific. Nuclear power also plants produce large amounts of power but are neither clean nor particularly popular considering the potential for widespread harm. One only has to look towards Fukushima to understand that nuclear fission has lethal side effects if gone wrong. Not to mention the usual security risk conversation that surrounds traditional nuclear energy. So science is looking elsewhere for answers.

The answer may well lie on the other end of the nuclear spectrum. Whereas fission splits an atom, producing enormous amounts of energy, fusion combines atoms to produce more power and less waste of a lower toxicity. While this sounds like a wonderful solution, there is a slight hitch.

Fusion of atoms requires an enormous amount of energy, as atoms are not so quick to join forces and merge nuclei.

In nature we know of a place where this occurs on a regular basis, proving that nuclear fusion is a theoretically viable path, but unfortunately this happens to be on the surface of the sun. The extreme temperatures found there, roughly fifteen million degrees Celsius, are high enough to break down the bonds of hydrogen atoms, allowing for nuclear fusion. While this process could theoretically provide planet earth with enormous amounts of clean energy, replicating this extreme environment in a laboratory here on earth is, needless to say, impossible. Or at least, highly improbable. Cold fusion, the process of fusion without the element of extremely high temperatures, has remained a holy grail in nuclear physics for this very reason.

Nonetheless, this is not for lack of trying.

For decades, scientists have pursued this holy grail with dogged determination, although with no real success. However, they now seem to be closer than ever before.

ITER - the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor - is a megaproject involving 35 nations and billions of dollars and spanning multiple decades, that could lead us towards to some answers as to how to generate this potentially limitless source of clean energy. In 1988 Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to join forces to pursue this energy project, a project that

was deemed beyond the capability of any single nation to pursue. Fast forward 21 years and construction on a power plant has begun in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in Provence, France, with a scheduled date of 2025 for the first achievement of energy by producing fusion plasma.

The combined forces of the European Union, the United States, Russia, Japan, India, South Korea, and China have put forward a total of twenty billion dollars so far for this research and engineering project, a project designed not to produce a functioning power plant but rather to act as a stepping stone towards functional commercial fusion power plants.

The current problem in fusion research is that all results so far have produced a net loss in energy - that is to say that more energy was put into fusing atoms than the process itself yielded. ITER, Latin for the way (as in, the way forward in energy research), claims to be able to yield a Q factor of 10, where Q equals the amount of energy required to break even. This would make it the most efficient nuclear power plant of all time, by a magnitude of several degrees. Using Soviet technology in the form of a Tokamak, a magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment, the theory is that an extraordinarily strong magnetic field will be able to produce a stable enough environment to contain the fusion process. ITER itself will not be able to produce electricity, due to incomplete technical know-how, rather allowing the heat produced to be let out into the atmosphere. Currently projected to produce 500 megawatts of power in the form of thermal energy, roughly equal to the current largest nuclear fission power plant in the US, ITER is a costly demonstrative project that is very long in the making - something its critics are quick to point out. However, if successful, it is slated to be essential to the design and culmination of the DEMO fusion power plant, a power plant forecasted to produce a continuous stream of energy rated between two and four gigawatts; which is an amount that is large enough to put nuclear fusion on the map.

So then, why should we be excited about ITER? Should we even be excited about ITER? Well, if it goes as planned and positive net energy is produced then it is a step forward to discovering a reliable source of continuous energy. As this technology becomes better understood and easily replicable, the costs will diminish and the energy availability will increase. While hydroelectric power currently claims eight of the top ten most powerful power plants in the world, they are intrinsically geographically limited

and so are of no use to areas with little to no water. Fusion plants can theoretically be built anywhere, making their energy available to all. And unlike traditional nuclear power, the waste produced has a substantially shorter half-life and the radioactive levels are minimal, which combats the concerns of the strong antinuclear environmentalist advocates.

However, there are other concerns which may hamper the success of the project.

Fusion requires a process involving tritium and deuterium, two nuclear isotopes. Deuterium is easily found in nature, but tritium can be produced as the result of the fission/fusion process. While this sounds like the renewable energy jewel that is currently being searched for, if even 1% of tritium is not recovered then the whole process shuts down due to lack of total efficiency. Therefore a 100% efficient system is required for the fusion process to be considered successful, a target which scientists are extremely far from; a concern constantly pointed out by critics of nuclear fusion. The other major concern is the time frame and budget required. ITER is scheduled to be able to produce thermal power by 2035; making it a project that, even if technologically successful and on time, would have taken nearly half a century and billions of dollars to show results. And, then again, even if it is successful, it is merely a demonstration and not a functioning plant. That technology will then have to be applied to future power plants, none of which currently have a time frame of operation.

In a race where climate change is streaks ahead of scientific innovation, every year counts. The world is rapidly changing in front of our eyes: oceans are warming, reefs are bleaching, forests are being destroyed, weather patterns are changing, and species are dying out faster than we can count. With humanity’s voracious demand for more, we are left with less.

This is a race that none of us can afford to lose. Our demand for energy will only increase from here on out; and so a high output renewable energy source is essential, but will it arrive in time to make a difference? If one thing is for sure, it is that climate change will not be waiting for us to figure it out.

15

MEDICINE

6 NEW

PATIENTS ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST EVERY E

HOUR

ven though organ donation is of great importance it tends to be neglected. But what is the reason behind it? It is not a taboo anymore, but many times it is still left out. Let’s start with a brief overview what organ donation is actually about, since I have the impression that a lack of knowledge still causes carelessness.

16

Leonie Friedrich

Organisation and the European Union.

However, due to a shortage of available organs application is limited. The most frequent transplantations are kidney transplantations, followed by livers, lungs, hearts and even small intestine and the pancreas. Doctors, experts and specialist are constantly working on an expansion of the scope. All the mentioned organs are donated after death, but a kidney can also be partly donated when still alive as it grows – at least under normal circumstances – back to its original size on its own. I’m sure that there are many people out there not knowing anything about the whole topic. But for everyone who is interested, plenty of information can be found, for instance on the official page of the European Commission.

The first transplantation took place in 1954, when the American surgeon Joseph E. Murray successfully transplanted successfully the first kidney. Today organ transplantations are increasingly used as a medical treatment as it is often the only means to save lives in extreme cases.

The procedure is officially stipulated, and the Council of Europe coordinates the intergovernmental coordination, working closely together with other international But why do people not want to donate organisations such as the World Health and refuse the donation of any organ

principally? Are there ethnic reasons?

Or is it due to a religious background?

A lack of trust? A lack of knowledge?

What actually happens to my organs?

Can anyone ensure that my organs reach the “right” person? How about corruption behind the scenes? There are multiple reasons and a vast number of (maybe unanswered or even unanswerable) questions out there. Another reason to discuss the issue publicly.

On the 9th September the European Organ Donation Day (EODD) takes place. This day is not only organised to raise awareness for the urgency of organ donations but also to thank donators and to celebrate receivers’ their new lives. It offers the possibility to share stories, to exchange experiences and to encourage more people to reconsider their opinion on the issue or to even start thinking about it. Just to give you an idea what it’s about, here are some facts from the official fact sheet of the EOOD 2018: In 2017, more than 144 000 patients of the EU member states were on the waiting list (with an increase of 10% since 2013) and 43 000 patients got a transplant (an increase of 12% between 2013 and 2017), but there were 50 932 new added on the list. In other words, “6 new patients added to a waiting list every hour across Europe”.

Despite the increase of transplantations, “an average of 18 people on waiting lists die every day across Europe”. It is greatly underestimated how many people are urgently waiting for a donation. The lists seem endless, but every donation is precious and with every successful donation a new life can be saved.

A couple of years ago I started donating blood regularly, also because I have rare blood group. One day, one of the ladies working at the blood donation centre started talking to me about organ donations. To be honest, I never thought about it before, but she gave me some brochures and gave me some background information. Around this time a new case was published that a doctor misused the organ donation system and falsified the data of his patients to increase their chances for a better position on the waiting list. Of course, this case was not the only one and it is obvious that it caused a lot of general distrust. But is not donating organs an adequate reaction?

Receivers are the least ones to blame for it and they should not be the ones bearing the consequences. An appropriate reaction to these happenings is debatable, but I’m convinced that patients shouldn’t be the ones suffering. It is not their fault if the system fails.

Despite the negative publicity, decided to register as a stem cell donor to get an organ donation card. It is up to each individual and it is within in everyone’s right if one wants to donate organs or not.

At first it was an unaccustomed idea that someone else would live with a part of my body. Yet, the more I thought about it, the more certain I was. I don’t want to advertise or convince others. My aim is to draw attention, to start a debate and to inspire people to give it a thought.

What is also very important to me is the fact that there are still people out there who do not understand the difference between organ donation and organ trafficking, even though it is decisive. I want to emphasise that organ trafficking is, contrary to organ donating, a cruel business and it is, in almost every country, illegal. But not in everywhere. I found it incredibly shocking to find out, that Iran is the only country in the world where organ trafficking is not considered a crime. In Iran organ trafficking is legal and even regulated by the government. How is it possible that a government tolerates “crimes” of this character and does not prosecute them? Is profit more valuable than the fate of people? When trying to find an answer to this, I was wondering if it is a matter of cultural differences. But I find this very questionable and not a satisfying answer. But what can be done about it? It is to understand the reasoning behind organ trafficking. While organ donation is on a voluntary basis, poverty is a pivotal motivation for organ trafficking.

Often, people living in misery are either forced, feel obliged or they consider the black market as the last resort. And unfortunately, taken to its extreme, since the demand for organs is much higher than the supply, the black market is still successful.

Through the establishment of the organ donation system, a suitable framework was developed to tackle the problem of organ trafficking. Human standards have been developed to aim for the highest level of heath and safety. The better the organ donation system evolves, the more lives can be saved and the fewer people fall a victim to organ trafficking. I have talked to a few friends about organ donation and often their answer was: “I have no idea, I never thought about it”. My appeal is to debate about it, to exchange opinions and to reflect upon it.

17

Marina Ginestà

photographer: Hans Gutmann

18

PHOTOGRAPHY

This photograph is dated to June 1936, and depicts Marina Gineytà, a young socialist partisan and reporter during the Spanish Civil War between 1936-’39. At the young age of 19, she quickly became a respected, emancipated organiser among republican forces. Mostly, however, Ginestà worked as a journalist for various republican publications and as a translator for the Soviet propaganda correspondence. The photograph became famous for the expression of the enthusiasm many young western Europeans had for Communism during the interwar period. The young Soviet Union’s then appealing cause reached beyond its borders and many European volunteers from many nations thus joined leftist forces during the Spanish Civil War. Ginastà herself later said concerning the photograph: “On the one hand we were fascinated by the Soviet Union [...] But on the other hand, were young people of the quiet modern city of Barcelona and were fascinated by Hollywood, this new world. [...] The movie stars were just as much heroes to us as Lenin and Stalin were.”

19

Samantha Scarpa-Ferraglio

E-STONIA “A bug is never just a mistake. It represents the historical context in which the new something bigger. An error of thinking cyber superpower arose. In particular, two “historical bugs” have been crucial in that makes you who you are”. the Estonian post-Soviet Renaissance: its y reading this quote from Mr. independence in 1991 and the 2007 Cyber Robot’s main character, Elliot Attack.

Alderson, it might seem that the talented hacker of the TV show perfectly The first bug: from the summarised, probably unknowingly, the incredible history of the technological fall of the Soviet Union to development of Estonia.

Skype

B

Skype, Locked Shield, NATO Cyber Defense, CyCon: all these projects - some more popular than others - have indeed a common denominator: they are the product of bugs (“errors”, here meant as historical and political outbreaks) that, throughout the years, have allowed a tiny country such as Estonia to become one of the core centres of cyber security operations at the international level. In summer 2017, even the US Vice President Mike Pence and US Senator John McCain visited the country with an expert delegation, in order to discuss the new NATO Cyber Defense Strategy.

Since 1991, the Baltic state turned from a former Soviet satellite into the most advanced Member State of the European Union: from Estonia to E-stonia in less than 30 years.

The main question is, inevitably, which were the peculiarities of this exceptional development: in other words, what are the bugs which shaped Estonia’s new personality and, following Elliot’s words, “made Estonia what it is” right now.

In order to better understand and delve into the fascinating and unique example of “E-stonia”, it is necessary to examine

20

Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is one of the over 20 000 Estonian “e-residents”: this e-residency allows anyone in the world to be granted a government ID and start incorporating business in the country, even at miles of distance.

The Estonian enthusiasm towards the world of digital opportunities is also proved by statistic data. As a matter of fact, the Baltic nation holds an increasing number of start-ups (in 2018, these hit the record of 550 over 1.3 million On the 20th August of every year, since inhabitants), with a 26% of growth from 1991, Estonians celebrate the restoration 2017 in number of employees. of the country’s independence, stemming from the end of the Soviet power within It was exactly within one of these startits borders. Since that very moment, the ups that Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and ruins of the feeble Soviet infrastructures Jaan Tallinn developed a communication turned into an ultra-digitalised system software known as Skype in 2003. A few of bureaucracy and business. Following years later, eBay, and then Microsoft, the contemporary trends of digital acquired Skype for 2.6 billion and 8,5 phone connections, Estonia rejected billion dollars respectively. Even though Finland’s offer to share its own obsolete its headquarters moved to Luxembourg, communication system in the half 1990s more than 40% of its development staff is and started building its own new network. still situated in Estonia.

As the Economist has pointed out, for example, “the country went from having The second bug: from no land registry to creating a paperless the 2007 Cyber Attack one”.

By 1998, every school had an online to the Locked Shield connection. Even at the early stages of project education, basic knowledge of computing and coding became part of national Another key chapter of E-stonian programs. On the other hand, digital history finds its roots, somehow, in the progress made E-stonia save up to 2% Soviet Union. Both for historical and of GDP through an ID system which, geographical reasons, a Russian-speaking together with an individual PIN, allows minority still plays a relevant role in citizens to vote, pay taxes and have access the Estonian society. 12 years ago, the to personal registries digitally with less decision to move a statue of the Bronze paperwork and transaction costs. Even Soldier, symbol of Soviet domination one of the most advanced countries, Japan, in the Baltics, to the outskirts of the decided to build its ID national system capital, triggered a fiery response from with Estonian help. The same Japanese the Russian minority in the streets, with

TECHNOLOGY

protests and riots. However, on the 27th April, Estonia was also hit by what has later been considered one of the most serious cyberattacks in the contemporary history. For three days the general basic services, as well as the websites of the Estonian Parliament, were shut down. The intensity and gravity of the attack (whose perpetrators are officially still unknown, notwithstanding the first accusation were addressed to the Kremlin) was object of military and cybersecurity studies for the following years.

This unexpected wound to the heavily networked E-stonia called for further reforms within the system. In 2008, the outcome was already visible thanks to two important initiatives: the establishment of the Estonia’s Volunteer Cyber Defence Unit and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

With regards to the Unit, it stems from the Estonian Defence League, a paramilitary corps whose task is to assist and support the sovereignty and independence of the State. The Cyber Defence Unit is made up of volunteers who “protect Estonia’s hightech way of life”. It is composed of cyber experts which share their knowledge and help detect and fix breaches in the Estonian cyber network. Following a report from e-estonia.com, Estonia still has an average of 300 detected incidents each month, even though the number of attacks prevented is three times higher.

The NATO Cooperation Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, on the other hand, has been gathering military experts from both sides of the Atlantic. Following these developments, NATO has included cyber defence in the interpretation of Article 5 of

its Treaty, triggering a collective defence and cooperation on this matter. This has led top officials from the U.S.-led coalition to visit Tallinn, its official headquarters more and more often, and to eventually set up the CyCon and the Locked Shield projects.

The E-stonian hub: a new Silicon Valley against CyberCrime?

The Annual International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCon) is the biggest global event on Cyber Security, supported

by NATO which, since its foundation more than 20 years ago, has increased in prestige and importance, also thanks to the extraordinary contribution of Estonian experts. As the CyCon website explains, every year CyCon hosts “around 600 decision-makers, opinion-leaders, law and technology experts from the governments, military, academia and industry of nearly 50 countries”.

However, theory will never be enough without practice, especially in such a complex and unforeseeable field. This is where Tallinn becomes a central player once again, hosting the yearly “Locked Shields”, the biggest and most advanced international live-fire cyber defence exercise in the world. Every year since 2010, this strategic game gathers more than 1000 experts, divided in different teams, and tests their military and technical skills by presenting a crisis situation in which vital services, within a fictitious country, are under threat of a largescale cyber-attack. The cybersecurity, military, social and political level merge

in a unique exercise which makes Tallinn the vital nerve of information exchange and operations. NATO, EU, US and other international teams compete and develop their abilities, contributing to the advancement of technology in the field.

Starting from its post-Soviet ruins and remains, Estonia made a clear choice.

As its current President Kersti Kaljulaid stated, “Estonia has a message to the wider world”. Its exceptional way to redefine itself and invest in a better future, pushing for a fast and effective Digital European era, has already given tremendously positive outcomes. This inestimable treasure which lies within the European Union borders is already calling for change across the entire Union, as the Estonian efforts to negotiate legislative reforms on the Digital Single Market during its Presidency term in the Council has definitely demonstrated.

Now that Estonia has become E-stonia, it would be time for the European Union to become more E-uropean. In this, Tallinn can be an enthusiastic and expert teacher, which clearly seems to have learnt the lesson on the nature of bugs: citing my dear Elliot for the last time, “the bug forces the software to adapt, evolve into something new because of it. Work around it or work through it. No matter what, it changes. It becomes something new. The next version. The inevitable upgrade.”

21

Wiebke Stimming

T

he EU prides itself with having been able to maintain peace in Europe for 70 years. But if you look deeper under the surface, you quickly see that this claim is pretentious. Yes, there has been peace within the European Union, but other territories on the continent have not been quite as lucky.

Especially the nineties were heavily marked by open conflict and even large-scale genocide on the doorstep of the Union in the Balkans.

Now, almost two decades after the end of the Yugoslav wars, some form of normalcy has returned to the region. The accession process has been initiated with almost all states, but progress is slow, and frustration accompanies the talks. In the specific case of Macedonia, membership application was submitted in 2004, but 15 years later, the actual negotiation talks have not yet been opened. It almost seems as if Macedonia has been forgotten by the EU. Moreover, when the war raged in the territories of former Yugoslavia, the international community, including the European Communities and later Union failed to intervene effectively and prevent massacres like the one in Srebrenica.

One has to be cautious not to be overly critical of the Unions’ actions, as in this case, other actors like NATO had hard power. Even the soft power of the Communities was limited, nonetheless, in hindsight, it becomes clear how fatal the mistake of the Member States was to ignore minority issues and ethnic tensions in the Balkan region.

Today, the EU likes to pretend to wear a white hat when it comes to its neighbouring countries. There is even a specific policy tool, the European Neighbourhood Policy, although its practice is quite paradoxical. It includes missions which are designed to support democracy.

However, some countries receive more attention than others and some states are actively sanctioned by the EU, while the same actions

22

in other states do not trigger any response. This inconsistency in the reactions and actions of the EU have led to some countries feeling like they have been forgotten. For instance, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Georgia. These three countries have undergone backsliding and faced numerous challenges to democracy in the past few years. The reaction of the EU, however, has not been consistent and differed remarkably across countries.

The reason why the EU is inconsistent and often indecisive is due to the diversity of Member States and their interests. Especially since the European Council makes decisions through consensus, which is so difficult to obtain that almost all Council communications and stances are watered down significantly. The process follows the logic of coming together under the smallest possible denominator. Not being able to have a strong and unified voice would not be such a problem if the EU did not pretend to be so involved and use strongly normative language. Any progress which is made in the EU’s neighbourhood is always linked to the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy or their accession strategy. Therefore, most of the positive developments in the region are directly or indirectly linked to the EU’s involvement. Whether justified or not, the praise does create some expectations about how the EU should react to

negative developments in its neighbourhood.

The first expectation would be to react at all.

And if the EU stopped pretending to be a white knight, nobody would set the standards so high to begin with.

Of course, Neighbourhood Policy differs from country to country, some states are offered a membership perspective, while others, mostly due to their geographical location, will never get that opportunity. Because all states are so different from each other, their needs obviously differ. The EU, moreover, attempts to treat each

state differently according to their individual needs which make a consistent reaction challenging to attain. However, violations against human rights or democracy, for instance, should face the same consequences regardless of a future membership perspective. Possible forms of punishments, for instance, are restrictions on structural funds or Union condemnations.

This is so crucial because the narrative which is employed by the Union always presents the EU as a driving force in supporting stability, democracy and peace.

Another explicit example is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The EU is trying to establish closer ties with Ukraine, especially after the last revolution which was very pro-European (it was even called Euromaidan). When Russia annexed Crimea and war broke out, Russia’s actions were condemned, and sanctions were introduced. Today, however, there is little action beyond sanctions and some humanitarian aid. In addition, public interest is low.

It almost seems as if this war has been forgotten and as if Ukraine is standing on its own.

The question about how the EU should handle Russia has not been resolved and it does not look like it will be in the near future.

It is difficult to understand the reasons why the help offered to these regions is often so limited. Undeniably, the EU has its fair share of internal problems and struggles. Especially with fake news and populism on the rise, solidarity of European citizens has declined. This is also partly due to the misinformation or sheer lack of communication between Union institutions and its citizens. The referendum on the association agreement with Ukraine, which was rejected by the Netherlands, clearly showcases these problems since it was exactly these problems which led to the rejection of the agreement. Here, one of the crucial problems was that the people had either a wrong, or no idea at all, of what they were voting on.

That the Union’s actions in its neighbourhood are insufficient is not a secret anymore.

However, not being involved at all is also not an option. Just like having a knife-fight in someone’s front yard is very likely to involve the inhabitant at some point or another. Forgetting or ignoring this problem will not make it go away.

So, how appropriate is it to advertise the achievement of bringing peace ‘to Europe’ if parts of the continent are still being tormented by war? Especially in light of the available policy tools which can be used to reward or punish states in the neighbourhood. This narrative is Western-centric and helps to construct and fortify a western bubble. Often enough the Union uses narratives which see the Union as a driving force in bringing peace, stability and prosperity. But the reality is far removed from the objectives the EU has set for itself.

Either reality, or preferably their narrative, has to adjust. Moreover, the EU has to develop an efficient strategy on how to deal with undemocratic governments where the consequences do not differ between or are even determined by the relationship the EU has with the third state.

The regions on the edge of Europe should not be left behind but should enjoy continuous and consistent support from the Union.

POLITICS

23

TERRITORY

It’s not just a name Stella Theocharidou

24

Disclaimer:

This article is an opinion piece and reflects the perspective of one side of the debate.

I

t is the journal committee’s first meeting and after it is done we go to have celebratory beers -as one doeswhile also getting to know each other.

Obviously, the head of the committee sees the small Greek girl and tells her “So, Macedonia, elaborate on that!”. Normally, the girl tried not to elaborate on that, but five months later, here we are.

There has been a lot of confusion lately with the whole North Macedonia-Greece name dispute and this is an attempt to clear some things out. Macedonia is a geographical region of the Balkan Peninsula, which was mainly inhabited by the ancient Greek civilization. It is also the largest and second most populous administrative region of modern-day Greece. Its regional flag depicts the Vergina Sun, which is often considered as the historical royal symbol of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia. Henceforth, this piece will try to explain why the Greeks say “no, it is not just a name”. Rather, it is cultural appropriation from a newly formed Slavic country with no distinct culture of its own. Of course, out of respect for both countries, there will be an attempt to understand the other side as well.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an ancient tribe by the name of Macedonians, who traced their origins to Peloponnese, would form the Kingdom of Macedonia. Essentially an ancient Greek people, they spoke Ancient Macedonian, a language which was very much related to Ancient Greek. The Kingdom was not only extended to modern-day North Macedonia and Bulgaria, but all the way to Pakistan and India as well. The person behind this massive campaign of conquest was none other than Alexander III, otherwise known as Alexander the Great, one of the most (if not the most) respected Greeks.

Alexander’s empire flourished and with it the Greek civilization, which would later become the pillar of what we now call the

Western philosophy and culture.

Centuries later, a diverse group of tribal societies called Early Slavs were inhabiting Central and Eastern Europe. Along with the nomadic Iranian tribes living in the Eurasian Steppe, which were absorbed by the Slavic population in the area, they would expand towards the Balkans and the Alps. Although there is not much indication of where their original habitat was, scholars believe that they came from Eastern Europe and what is now Belarus, Poland and Ukraine. Considering that the various Slavic languages belong in the Balto-Slavic linguistic group, this seems like a valid assumption. Let’s just say or assume that they have no connection to Ancient Greeks and the Kingdom of Macedonia or, Alexander the Great for that matter.

Fast forward a few centuries, the first time we have a semi-official Slavic speaking region of Macedonia is around the time that the Byzantine Empire declared it as the Theme of Bulgaria. Its capital was Skopje and it had been under the rule of the Bulgarian Empire since the 9th century. The tribes living there were a conglomeration of South Slavs, speaking different -mainly Bulgarian- dialects.

Later on, in the 19th century, the idea of a national identity emerged in Europe and because of it, there was an uprising of nationalism throughout the Balkans which were still under Ottoman rule.

The first ones to rebel were the Serbs and the Greeks throughout 1804-1829, establishing the Principality of Serbia and the Hellenic Republic. The national awakening of Slavic Macedonians started much later in the late 19th century, years after they were excluded from the Bulgarian National Revival plans. In

the meantime, nationalistic sentiments began emerging in the area and the idea of linguistic separatism came about.

Of course, that was mostly because the territory which now is North Macedonia became part of Yugoslavia and the general idea was that Bulgarian was banned and Serbo-Croatian was suddenly the friendly linguistic comrade. As many scholars explain, the idea of nationality was a somewhat abstract concept for early 20th century Slavic Macedonians. It was rather a matter of political and financial benefits, and apparently, it was not a rare occurrence for villages to switch their nationality to Greek, Bulgarian or Serbian, depending on who was in front of them. There was no proper national consciousness among the people, maybe because they had been part of Bulgaria for so long and their language was essentially, a Bulgarian dialect.

On the other hand, throughout the 400 years of Ottoman rule, there was a shattered Greek country which was still very nationally self-conscious. The leading role of the Greek culture became more and more evident as years went by, which was something that helped with the Greek war of Independence in 1821.

It is understandable to feel some sympathy for a country like North Macedonia, whose Slavic population was a ball being passed around Bulgaria and later on Yugoslavia. However, statements like “we are descendants of Alexander the Great” simply do not make sense. Naming the capital’s airport after Alexander the Great does not reflect North Macedonian history. The chance that a Slavic Macedonian is a descendant of Alexander the Great, is equal to a little girl in Kolkata saying that Alexander was her grandpa.

So, when nationally confused people claim a certain culture or a name, doesn’t that make it cultural appropriation? Isn’t it cultural appropriation when a 28-year-old nation puts up an ancient Greek symbol on its flag? It is true that they changed it a bit afterwards as to not resemble the Vergina Sun, but it is there. Of course, as mentioned before, this is reflective of the Greek view and if we want others to better understand an issue, we should hear both sides of the story. This is not a nationalistic rant and there is much respect for the other side. Still, cultural appropriation is cultural appropriation, and when people say that it is just a name, it is not valid, because it is not just a name. It is so much more than that.

25

TERRITORY

Quo Vadis, Greta Koch

B

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orders, nationality, citizenship and passports seem like a given in Europe.

Most of us came to Maastricht from states that have been more or less consolidated since World War II, or since the end of the Cold War at the latest. We didn’t have trouble travelling here, or going anywhere else for that matter. The trickiest national identity question in the West seems to be whether one is from the Flemish or the Walloon part of Belgium.

But there are still cases in Europe where such obvious things are in question, and the most cracking one is Kosovo.

Kosovo – the little piece of territory in the South-West of the Balkans, encircled by Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro – declared its independence eleven years ago, on February 17th of 2008. And yet, it rarely shows up on maps, cannot become a member of the United Nations and with a Kosovar passport one cannot really travel East. That is because the 1.8 million inhabitants of Kosovo live in a state that remains unrecognised by 49 members of the UN, most importantly Serbia, Bosnia and Russia.

Until today, the Serbian government sees Kosovo as a part of its own state, which it had been for centuries before. Serbs conquered the Kosovo region back in the 13th century and many important monuments, such as Orthodox

churches and monasteries remained from that time, which Serbs often refer to as their cultural cradle. However, the Kosovar region has always been conflict ridden - a contested territory among the many ethnic groups that inhabit the Balkans.

With shifting movements and enduring conflicts, the South of Kosovo has long been mostly populated by ethnic Albanians - and not Serbs. With the establishment of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II, Kosovo became yet again strongly bound to Serbia under Tito, who granted the region some autonomous status within the socialist state. The end of the Cold War and the pressure of a disintegrating Yugoslavia spurred increasingly nationalist movements among both Albanians and Serbs, accusing each other of discrimination and claiming Kosovo as their own.

The autonomy Tito granted to Kosovo was massively reduced under the government of Slobodan Milosevic, which many Albanians tried to boycott or had to flee from. After 1989, no Albanian schools, clubs or political parties were allowed in Kosovo and many Albanians were randomly expropriated. Thousands of Albanians fled from Kosovo for Albania, Macedonia or Montenegro, and the refugee movements also affected EU countries and

, Kosovo Switzerland. Over the years, these tensions grew into violent conflicts and after Kosovo tried for independence in 1999, the region was overtaken by Serbian troops campaigning for ethnic cleansing. Thus began a 78-day war that cost the lives of 15.000 Albanians and was only stopped by NATO intervention.

While NATO could stop the war, it could not stop the ethnic tensions. After the war, Kosovo only existed in some kind of grey area, as talks between Kosovar-Albanians and Serbs kept failing. Serbs continued to claim Kosovo as a historically important region of Serbia, while Albanians claimed that Serbs had lost all political legitimacy after pursuing ethnic cleansing. These tensions culminated in new unrest and ethnic violence in 2004, leaving thousands hurt, 27 people dead, and more than 4000 non-Albanians in Kosovo forced to leave their homes. In just a few days, 35 Serbian Orthodox churches and almost 1000 houses were damaged or destroyed.

Thus, when Kosovo declared independence in 2008, it was recognised as such by many states, but it did not resolve issues between Albanians and Serbs in the region – and hence was not recognised by Serbia and its biggest allies.

Most of the countries that do not recognise Kosovo as a state also do not recognise its passport or borders – which is why, despite

its declared statehood, Kosovo remains still in somewhat of a grey area, labelled a “stabilised de-facto regime”.

What hints at a possible resolution is that Serbia wants to join the European Union, which made the settlement of the issue with Kosovo a membership condition. The latest breakthrough was when both the President of Kosovo and the President of Serbia backed the idea of a land-swap. Through such a deal, Kosovars would trade its northern territory, that is still inhabited by the Serbian minority in the country, for Serbia’s Presevo valley that is dominated by ethnic Albanians.

This sounds relatively easy, but the deal could still compromise peace in the Balkan region, as Kosovo is not the only territory that is ridden by ethnic tensions. For years, Serbs in Bosnia have been calling for independence or a reunion of Serb-populated territories with Serbia – a landswap could awaken these tensions. Similarly, Macedonia is still struggling with conflicts between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians, and each could claim their territory in the aftermath of a land-swap as well. So, while the agreement between the governments of Serbia and Kosovo is encouraging, solving this issue is a long way down the road.

Despite its contested statehood, Kosovo’s development has been remarkable under such

conditions. While exactly twenty years ago, the country was destroyed by war, the country is now rebuilt and shows a modern face. The population is one of the youngest in Europe, as half of its inhabitants are under the age of 30.

This not only sparks hope for a new generation to break with ethnic dynamics of conflict but is also felt in the vibrant city of Pristina and the rest of the country. Moreover, Kosovo is expected to register the highest GDP growth rate in South East Europe.

The history of Kosovo shows that peace and stability are not as secure in Europe as many claim and borders and citizenship are not as self-evident as many would like to think. But the war in Kosovo happened “only” twenty years ago – which is a very short time in history. Most of its witnesses are still alive. It takes time to heal such wounds. Yet, Kosovo seems to be moving in the right direction.

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DESIGN

Sw Des Steff Nagel

And why it matters to our magazine.

A

s the Art Director of the Maastricht Diplomat, I would like to share the story of the design style that is used in our magazine. Swiss design, or the International Typographic Style, was developed in the 50s, after the Second World War had ended. Its creation was a response to the detailed and abundant style which had taken Europe by storm in the 40s, mostly under the Nazi Regime. The Germanic, Medieval style of lettering; the detailed paintings of Hitler and his followers; these things were considered to be from an age on which people did not want to look back. The future was san serif, bold, and simple.

When Hitler rose to power, he demanded that modernistic schools of art were to be shut down and that all modern, san serif typefaces were to be replaced with classic, Germanic typefaces. The Bauhaus

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school for Design, among others, fell victim to this decision. Together with the Russian constructivists, it had created a design philosophy of ‘form follows function’. Objects were brought back to their most basic shapes: a chair was nothing more than an item to sit on after all; and graphic design became mere colour, text, and shapes. From Bauhaus came beautiful modern typefaces, arguably the most famous being the font Futura (which our magazine uses as little headers in the top corners). However, after 1932, Bauhaus was disbanded as a school and its products were replaced by the propagandistic National Socialist style.

Side-note; Hitler was apparently a huge fan of Futura as a typeface, but it went against the idea that Germany should go back to its roots, and therefore it was purged from pamphlets. Ironically, the

legibility of these medieval typefaces was poor, and most occupied regions had difficulty understanding what certain signs were saying. Eventually, the Nazis did use more readable typefaces to get their messages across.

Bauhaus being disbanded did not stop graphic design from evolving. Swiss Design is based on a few principles, but the most important one is that of objectivity and impartiality; graphic design should not choose a side, but rather leave the debate up to the people. Joseph MüllerBrockmann, a pioneer within the style, “sought an absolute and universal form of graphic expression through objective and impersonal presentation, communicating to the audience without the interference of the designer’s subjective feelings or propagandist techniques of persuasion.”

During the 50s, international trade was

wiss sign. booming between Europe and America which required graphic design to be readable and understandable, without the need to add ornaments or culturally bound iconography. This led to a style so modern it did not age at all for the past 70 years.

One of the key elements of this new style is its most famous typeface: Helvetica.

Helvetica, named after the Helvetic Republic, aka Switzerland, took the world by storm. Its use in business, posters, books, banners etc. etc. is abundant. Once you recognise it, you cannot not see it. It adorns most of the headings in our magazine; it’s Apple’s main typeface for most of their software, a plethora of companies use it in their logos and it is embellished on most subways around the world. Yet, it is never credited for its beauty. Why? Because of the principles laid out above, the Swiss designers behind the typeface

sought to make an objective, clear, and readable typeface. Where we may look at certain placards and love the way the letters are shaped, or where we cringe at the idea of using Comic Sans for business branding, we give Helvetica no credit. And that’s why it works. It was designed to be neutral, just as the country is was made in.

And yet, while Swiss Design has been the posterchild for objectivity, it has not been exempted from criticism. When it became abundant during the sixties, the rules surrounding it were strict and devoid of creativity. Jan Tschichold, one of the founding fathers of the Swiss Design, even ‘found parallels between the National Socialist regime and the teachings of Swiss Graphic Design.’ Despite this, he was arrested by the Nazis in the 30s.

And yet, Swiss Design lives on.

Structures and grids, measurements and

precise placement of text, image and iconography; it all derives from the principles of objectivity laid out 70 years ago. What you, as a reader, do not see is how these principles are applied during the creation of this magazine. And when you don’t notice them, then they are applied correctly. As Dieter Rams would say, ‘good design is invisible’; the unspoken mantra of Maastricht Diplomat design.

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POLITICS

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W M ha ar t x wo sa u y? ld

n May, European citizens will vote for a new European Parliament most likely composed of many contrasting parties on the right and left of the political spectrum.

While the European People’s Party and Socialists will likely remain the majority in the parliament, many Eurosceptic parties will join or gain more seats. It is commonly known that populist far-right parties are Eurosceptic, but how about left-winged parties? Historically, there were Eurosceptic parts to the leftist ideology as well. Many European parties have already announced their party program for the upcoming elections. As a result, the debate on left-wing party’s division over the EU has enflamed again all over Europe. This is also apparent when looking at the Labour Party during the Brexit referendum.

After less than 50 years of being a member of the EU, the UK voted to leave. UK’s Labour party failed to offer a referendum during the 2015 elections, but its Eurosceptic leadership was not too unhappy with the turnout. While the Tories proposed the referendum in 2015, generally, most arguments can also be made from a left perspective. Just a few of those are: the EU entrenches corporate ideas but not in favour of its working citizens, the EU has too much control over national political and cultural matters by unaccountable politicians, and there is not enough UK representation in EU institutions. While half of Labour politicians is strongly Eurosceptic and uses arguments named above, the other half argues for the EU. Their belief is, that the EU, despite of its flaws, should be supported and enlarged, while still being in need of improvement.

Not only in the UK, decades of pro-EU propaganda have failed to convince many left politicians of its worth. All over Europe, Eurosceptic politicians have made their voice heard. Left-wing parties in France, Greece, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK and in many more European countries are divided on their

opinions towards the EU. Where does this fault-line come from? And what are the main arguments on each side?

In order to understand these divisions, a reconsideration of the left’s founding theorist, Karl Marx, may be helpful. Summarized briefly, his main thought was that the internal contradictions of capitalism will lead to business monopolisation and profit explosion. This will lead to an undermining of democracy since decisions are made by the elite, or bourgeoisie, rather than by the people. Therefore, business interests will unavoidably overtake the interests of the working class. In the long term, this will result in mass unemployment. A class struggle will emerge, where the unified proletariat without property or capital will inevitably overthrow the capitalist class as a result.

Marx foresaw socialism as the successive system compared to capitalism. In a socialist system, all means of production are stateowned and workers’ self-management through worker Unions and Councils is desired. While there are many different forms of socialism in the world and within Europe, social ownership is a common element shared by all various forms. Accordingly, wealth and resources are supposedly evenly distributed to the benefit of all.

The fault-line seen in many European leftwing parties over the EU is deeply rooted within Marx critique on capitalism. One the one hand, lefties are not in favour of the EU because it is built upon neoliberal ideas and undermines democracy.

The main idea of the founders of the EU was to maintain peace through economic cooperation. The idea ‘peace through trade’ was applied by merging the market-based systems of European countries after World War II. Private ownership of production and market liberalization were two important components of the European Project. Both were opposed by many left-wing politicians and by Marx. Hence, the whole economic approach to European integration was at odds with socialism from the beginning.

Additionally, another critique is that decisions

are taken by politicians in institutions as far from the society as can be. This leads to the overrepresentation of businesses and the elite, rather than the working class in European politics. Thus, a democratic deficit emerges, growing in time. Many left-wing parties additionally criticize military interventions and the control of EU institutions over European countries sovereignty, such as Greece and Portugal during and after the financial crisis.

Generally, however, the critique of EU’s fundamental concept of neoliberalism and its democratic deficit are the two components found in all left European parties. Additionally, suggestions of improvement of left-wing politicians include more social ownership and a greater focus on the needs and rights of the working class. These critiques are very much in line with Karl Marx’s thoughts on the capitalist system.

On the other hand, many left-wing politicians see the merits of the EU. They see a project which brought the continent peace.

The merging of national economies led to transnational dependence which spilled over from an economic, to a political and cultural field. This resulted in another benefit of the EU in the view of socialists: Cosmopolitanism.

Every European Union citizen has the same human rights and lives in a democratic country.

Additionally, the EU’s foreign policy is built upon the promotion of these human rights, peace and the promotion of democracy. While most left-wing parties strongly criticize any military interventions of European countries in the world, most agree that the EU acts less like an imperialistic power than other superpowers in the world. Lastly, many lefties strongly support that the EU stands up to big companies in order to further regulate their rights, increase taxes and strengthen state-control, such as the fight of EU institutions against tax havens and usage of personal data on Facebook, or increasing taxes on Google.

All in all, the mentioned arguments led, and still lead, to a deep division. Most leftwing parties have to decide over and over again before each European election to either compete as a Eurosceptic or a pro-European party.

The Labour party, due to Brexit, obviously did not announce a party program for the upcoming elections. However, they are supporting a second referendum hoping the majority would vote to remain. In February, Die Linke announced their party program for the upcoming elections. A day later it was tough to avoid headlines such as: Die Linke and the EU: Yes, No & Abstention?

(In Neues Deutschland) Love letters to the EU: What happened to Die Linke? (In Süddeutsche Zeitung).

While many political experts and citizens expect left-wing parties to be naturally Eurosceptic, this does not seem to be the case anymore. Data shows that Die Linke voters are 73% pro-EU, favouring to hand over more rights and sovereignty to the EU; more than any other German party, besides the Green party.

Another pattern observable during past election campaigns and in party programs is the common fight against right-wing, anti-EU parties. This struggle led to an uncertainty in left-wing parties all over Europe about how greatly Eurosceptic they should be. While left Euroscepticism argues from a different perspective than right-wing parties, the general critique of the EU has led to heavy losses for socialist groups. In France, left-winged JeanLuc Mélenchon lost with his party La France insoumise the 2017 presidential elections, besides other reasons, because he was too Eurosceptic.

Today, not long before the upcoming elections, many left-wing parties still seem divided. Generally, the positions of parties shift in regard to the position of its leaders. Some party leaders have adopted a pro-EU position in order to fight an attack from the populist right and save Europe from Italy’s Salvini, France’s Le Pen or Germany’s Gauland.

While the critique on EU’s democratic deficit and its neoliberal economic system remains broadly the same in European left-wing parties, we will see which left-wing parties will be successful in a pro-EU or a Eurosceptic position in the upcoming elections.

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T R AV E L

Istanbul through a different lens Ceren Cingi

Marmara Sea

Galata Tower

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Kadikoy Ferry Pier

Kadikoy

S

ince the beginning of my studies in Maastricht, I have received countless questions related to life in Turkey. As a country which is being represented differently depending on the media and news platforms, many people have questions regarding the politics, identities and cultural life of Turkey.

Although one can try to come up with general ideas about the country and try to explain its dynamics, I believe that various approaches can result in different conclusions. It would not be wrong to say that every city and almost every town within the same country has its own identity, approach to education, cultural and political views as well as socio-economic dynamics.

Istanbul is one of the biggest social hubs of the country and perhaps the one with the highest diversity. There are many other beautiful and culturally rich cities but as someone who was born and raised in Istanbul, I am interested in introducing the city from a local’s perspective.

Despite the unfortunate and upsetting attacks which happened in last years, nowadays Istanbul is much safer than the way it is represented in the media. Daily life continues as normal; the streets are full of people and the city never sleeps. With the current currency being almost five times lower than the Euro, Istanbul is inviting as a beautiful and cheap destination to explore. Let’s have an alternative look at Istanbul to see the beauty in the normality of an ordinary day.

Istanbul is a city which connects two different continents, Europe and Asia, through the Bosphorus. Contrary to what some might think, the life on both sides of the city is pretty similar. A famous touristic area called ‘Tarihi Yarımada’ (The Historical Peninsula) is located on the European side of the city. The history of the peninsula dates back to B.C. 685 and it has been home for Egyptian, Roman, Byzantine

and Ottoman Empires. The area is surrounded by the old city walls which were mostly built during the rule of the Byzantine Empire. Many touristic spots such as Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, and Suleymaniye Mosque can be found on the Historical Peninsula. Additionally, the European side of the city is a business centre. As a matter of fact, the majority of the business complexes are located on the European side. Although the skyscrapers change the traditional silhouette of the city, the view of from the Bosphorus still preserves its eye-catching view. From my perspective, a must do activity in Istanbul is to cross the Bosphorus by a ferry, to see an extraordinary view, feel the breeze gently blowing your hair and to feed the seagulls.

The Anatolian side of Istanbul is referred to as the living part whereas the European side is mostly associated with working. Kadikoy, an inviting town near the sea, is one of the most popular city centres. The Historic Kadikoy Market, Haydarpasha Train Station, Haldun Taner Theather, Nostalgic Moda Tramway, countless cafes, music bars, and flea markets can be visited in the area. In Kadikoy, as in Taksim on the European side, you can find yourself surrounded by a collection of different cultures and identities. In Moda, it is possible to drink freshly brewed Turkish tea, get icecream from the famous Ali Usta Creamery and enjoy the amazing views of the Marmara Sea. In Kalamis, close to Kadikoy, there are worldclass marinas, green parks, sports fields, bike roads, different cafés and restaurants by the sea. Bagdat Avenue, similar to Nisantasi Avenue located in the European Side, is popular for shopping. Famous luxury brands, as well as boutique stores, can be found along the avenue. Uskudar, Beylerbeyi, and Cengelkoy are colourful towns where you can enjoy the

Prince Islands

Caddebostan

captivating scenery of the Bosphorus from different angles. The night-life in Istanbul is also pretty active in both the European and Asian sides. There are a variety of options from rooftop bars to night clubs to live music cafes.

The European and Anatolian sides are not the only places to see in Istanbul. It is possible to take the island ferry from Besiktas, Bostanci, Eminonu, Kabatas and Kadikoy to explore the Prince Islands. There are five smaller and four larger islands, Buyukada (Big Island), Heybeliada (Saddlebag Island), Burgazada (Fortress Island), and Kınalıada (Henna Island).

During the summer season the islands might get very crowded, especially the Big Island, hence it could be a good idea to choose which island to visit according to its crowdedness. Renting a bike and having a cycling tour or taking a horse cart ride around the island, getting refreshed at the beaches, eating fresh seafood and island ice cream are popular activities to do.

Istanbul is a city of hopes and expectations.

From one perspective, it is full of colours, joy, and art; whereas from another, it is busy, crowded and tiring. Every district in Istanbul offers a unique cultural environment. One town of the city may feel extremely modern and European whereas another town, which is only a short subway ride away, can seem traditional and conservative. The travelling and living experiences differ from person to person but regardless of your expectations, Istanbul offers a unique journey. The city invites everyone to walk through its streets and explore the beauties hidden in its historical and daily life. With the amazing Bosphorus connecting Europe and Asian continents, colourful and lively districts, beautiful Prince Islands, dazzling sunsets and countless activities to do, Istanbul is a unique city to see with your own eyes.

Home

Bestikas Ferry Pier

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The best of Europe Marie-Sophie Silan

I

n today’s Europe, big elections are coming, the UK is leaving, populist parties are dividing and more and more people are wondering what on earth twentyeight completely different States are doing together and what they possibly have in common. Well, if you delve a little bit into some of the local music produced in each Member State, not only will you be amazed and instantly drop your iPod full of American stuff, but, just like me, you will realize that all across the continent, people worry about exactly the same things.

Political disillusionment. Inner divisions. Climate change. Gender

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violence. Concealing new ways one exception to this: Ewert and and tradition. Corruption. Poverty. the Two Dragons is a band from Parties. Loneliness. Fun. Love.

Tallinn, Estonia, however, they sing in English. But they are incredible Now might be the time to and I made it a personal mission to remember why we are together and export them throughout the whole to build upon every single thing continent). we share. It doesn’t matter if we don’t speak the same language or if our culture and mentalities don’t always entirely align. Music is a To access the Spotify-playlist, universal tongue, they say. I think go to ‘search’ on Spotify and that’s about right. click on the camera to scan The following playlist includes the code above! songs from each and every Member State of the EU, all of them in the national, or one of the main, languages (there is only

MUSIC

1 Blof (feat Geike) – Zoutelande (the Netherlands) 2 Piotta, Il Muro Del Canto – 7 Vizi Capitale (Italy) 3 Niko Vertis – Thelo Na Me Niosis (Greece) 4 Hakan Hellström – När lyktorna tänds (Sweden) 5 The Dumplings – Nie Gotujemy (Poland) 6 Eddy de Pretto – Beaulieue (France) 7 Rozalén – La Puerta Violeta (Spain) 8 The Travellers - Hafi Paci Kuluri (Malta) 9 Natsja – Gi’ mig Danmark tilbage (Denmark) 10 Ivi Adamou – Akou Sopa (Cyprus) 11 Neonschwarz – On A Journey (Germany) 12 De Lab (feat Yves Schmartz) – De Stolze Bauer (Luxembourg) 13 Ewert and the Two Dragons – Somewhere (Estonia) 14 Modrijani – Rock Me (Slovenia) 15 Krisia Todorova – Planet of the Children (Bulgaria) 16 Luke Kelly – Raglan Road (Ireland) 17 Severina – Halo (Croatia) 18 Wellhello – apuveddmeg (Hungary) 19 Rigas Modes – Piekerti Nozieguma Vieta (Latvia) 20 Bilderbuch – Bungalow (Austria) 21 jauti – Visai Ne Tai (Lithuania) 22 Finntroll – Trollhammaren (Finland) 23 Capitao Fausto – Morro Na Praia (Portugal) 24 Holograf – Cat de departe (Romania) 25 Sima (feat Ego) – Princip Vzajomnosti (Slovaquia) 26 Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers (UK) 27 Stromae – Défiler (Belgium) 28 Jelen – Magdalena (Czech Republic)

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MSc in Public Policy & Human Development (MPP) Why study Public Policy at UNU-MERIT

Global topics and challenges

• Double-degree diploma (UNU & UM) • Intensive, multi-disciplinary one-year programme • Problem-based learning in small groups • Students from dozens of countries • Guest lecturers from international organisations • Career opportunities in multiple sectors

development economics • human security • transnationalism• sustainable innovation and development • regional integration • social protection • risk assessment • policy design • migration studies • foreign policy • capacity building • globalisation • technology transfer • international trade • human rights

Application deadline: 15 June 2019 2018

www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/governance