Miscellaneous

Studying scholarly facts-based history can sometimes elude us from understanding human experience in terms of feeling and emotion. We can often escape from the dangers of this (potentially) alienating experience by supplementing the study of classical accounts of history with other non-scholarly sources: historical fiction, memoirs, diaries, etc. In the current cross-cultural debate, one can find valuable insights in the ... Read More »

The Left in Europe has shown glimpses of electoral success recently in both Greece and Spain. Even a grey-haired, bearded, self-titled socialist has been elected as the leader of the Labour party in the United Kingdom with a enormous mandate. Yet, the Left in Europe is still struggling to make any significant impact on the wider politics of Europe. Why ... Read More »

If you live in a cave, or are not aware of a little thing called the internet, then you may be excused for not knowing that in America there is currently a peculiar circus travelling from state to state, attracting crowds of screaming millennials, frustrated gun owners, and expectant babies waiting to be signed or kissed by a messianic figure. ... Read More »

by Aleksis Oreschnikoff – an independent writer interested in living better As Europe faces an unprecedented influx of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria, international organizations, and international humanitarian development look for solutions both in- and outside of the Union. In many European capitals, housing and redevelopment schemes are recreated to meet current demand. However, much needs to be done in the ... Read More »

At the end of January, the Washington-based ‘fact think’ Paw Research Center published a report on crowdfunded journalism that brings again on the spotlight the hope for a long-term rehabilitation of the written word. Crowdfunding is the process of collecting money from a large group of people for a specific project, usually conducted via Internet. In the evolving digital era, ... Read More »

Schengen keeps alive the idea of a Europe free of internal border control which facilitates a rapid and smooth flow of goods, services and persons, without any border check delays. However, the huge influx of migrants and the uncooperative EU member states have destabilized Schengen like never before. France imposed its border control as a direct consequence to the terrorist attacks that occured in ... Read More »

Political activism. What a beautiful phrase. It rolls off your tongue with heroic ease and fills your soul with lofty ideals. It invites connotations of emancipation, community and justice. We feel strong and truly human when we take part in political activism – doing our ‘bit’ in directing the course of human progress. Yet, when we think of political activism ... Read More »

  Ask yourself for a moment who are the closest people to you. To whom do you go when you need a warm embrace, an encouraging voice and a loving place to return after a long day? Did you think perhaps of your family…maybe your lover? It is amazing how a few words can make you think of your most ... Read More »

Eric Niehe is a former Dutch diplomat whose distinguished career in the foreign service of the Netherlands spanned four decades, and included postings as Ambassador to Ireland, Hungary, and India. Since his retirement in 2007 he has been, amongst other things, Chairman of the Europe India Institute at Nyenrode Business University, and Honorary Member of the Netherlands India Chamber of ... Read More »

Forced settlements in the Soviet Union took place in a series of brutal operations. A majority of the deportations were carried out in the Baltic States, primarily between 1941-1949. Over 44 thousand families, approximately 130 thousand Lithuanians, were forced to leave their country. These are the facts offered by statistical data. However, Checks&Balances provides you with a story from another ... Read More »