My Republica

Dominique Moisi

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Containing the anger virus

Published On: June 7, 2020 03:00 PM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – The small landlocked Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which lies between China and India, is not only a tourist mecca. The country has also long pioneered the concept of “gross national happiness” (GNH), which its architects regard as far more comprehensive and accurate than the conventional measure of an economy, gross national product, or GNP.

The West’s Pandemic of Fear

Published On: April 1, 2020 10:07 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – Emotions are not easily contained. They control us much more than we control them. And during a pandemic, the dominant emotion is naturally fear.

Tale of Two Demagogues

Published On: March 2, 2020 09:04 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – “America loves India,” declared US President Donald Trump on his recent visit to the Indian state of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s power base. Before a crowd of more than 100,000 in the world’s largest cricket stadium, the two leaders triumphantly celebrated the deepening friendship between their countries—or, to be more precise, between their brands of charismatic populism. Not even Trump’s repeated mangling of Indian names during his speech could dampen Modi’s glow.

Geopolitics of Holocaust Memory

Published On: February 5, 2020 08:05 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army is an occasion marked by angst as well as sadness. Anti-Semitism is back with a vengeance around the world, as if the lessons of the Holocaust had evaporated with time—or, even worse, had never been fully integrated into our collective consciousness.

Israel’s Democracy Fatigue

Published On: January 21, 2020 08:35 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

JERUSALEM – If any Western country is suffering from democratic dysfunction, it is Israel. With the country’s political leaders having again failed to form a government following the most recent parliamentary election in September, voters will head back to the polls in March 2020 for the third time in less than a year. Yet, given Israel’s inflamed, polarized politics and its highly proportional electoral system, what else can one expect from this next national vote except more deadlock?

Macron’s NATO mistake

Published On: December 9, 2019 10:03 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Although Macron has an ideal vision of what Europe needs to become, he should not encourage the deconstruction of NATO, nor deepen divisions among Europeans.

The spirit of 2019

Published On: November 3, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – As in 1848, 1968, 1989, and 2010-2012, a wave of popular protests has taken the world by surprise. Ongoing mass revolts-in Beirut, Santiago, Hong Kong, Algiers, Baghdad, and other cities—are gaining strength and wrong footing governments. But although the temptation to seek historical comparisons is understandable, the 2019 uprisings also have a distinct flavor of their own.

Will democracy die last?

Published On: August 25, 2019 01:05 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – In the late 1970s and early 1980s, prominent international relations experts such as the late French political philosopher Pierre Hassner argued that the world was witnessing a process of competitive decay between the United States and the Soviet Union. For the latter, the conflict in Afghanistan was about to become an even costlier failure than the Vietnam war had been for America. By 1989, the verdict was clear: The Soviet Union had atrophied much faster than the US, and its empire collapsed, the victim of its own errors and contradictions.

Is Von Der Leyen the leader Europe Needs?

Published On: August 8, 2019 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Many European observers wonder whether Ursula von der Leyen has the right combination of charisma, stamina, resilience, and political inventiveness to be the leader Europe needs

Money can’t buy love

Published On: July 3, 2019 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Palestinians still cling to the hope that demographic trends mean time is on their side. But, in the meantime, prospects for peace in the region seem vanishingly slim

Emotion of Notre Dame

Published On: April 25, 2019 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Paris was not burning, but its emotional heart was. What’s more, this gigantic fire was live on prime-time news

Ambition Europe needs

Published On: March 26, 2019 12:25 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron recently launched his platform for the upcoming European Parliament elections. Official reactions to his approach—outlined in a commentary published simultaneously in every European Union country—were mostly positive, with even the Euroskeptic prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán and Liviu Dragnea of Romania, endorsing his agenda (for tactical reasons). But, in the chorus of approval, one notable voice was missing: Germany.

Italian warning for France

Published On: February 3, 2019 01:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

It is tempting to compare Italy’s criticism of France to the Yellow Vests’ hostility toward French elites

Macron’s missteps

Published On: December 25, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Macron is an exceptionally intelligent, energetic, and courageous person, but he seems to lack the maturity and humility that come with age

Lost lessons of World War I

Published On: November 27, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

The risk today is that generations that have not known war will reproduce the chain of events that lead to it

The Folly of MBS

Published On: October 31, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Egypt had effectively opted out of the regional-influence game, and Turkey, though a member of NATO, was a difficult partner

A strategy for liberals

Published On: October 7, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

Populism can still be beaten back. But to win, democratic forces will need to clothe themselves in a new narrative

Standing up for the UN

Published On: September 2, 2018 01:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

To restore UN’s standing and influence to the level it attained under Annan will require stronger support from Europe, Canada and Japan

Why World Cup mattered

Published On: July 27, 2018 12:30 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

In geopolitical terms, if one were to name just two winners this year, the titles would have to go to Russia and France

All eyes on Italy

Published On: June 10, 2018 01:00 AM NPT By: Dominique Moisi

The rest of Europe tends to ignore Italy when things go well and to underestimate the potential consequences when things go badly