On the Run, at Home: Lessons on Law and Exclusion from America to Bulgaria
By Bozhidar Brandiyski
This article draws on Alice Goffman’s On the Run to explore how systems of policing and social exclusion operate across different political contexts. While Goffman documents the impact of securitised law enforcement on Black communities in Philadelphia, her insights reveal striking parallels with the marginalisation of Roma communities in Bulgaria. By comparing patterns of surveillance, discrimination, and public mistrust, the paper shows how structural biases persist even under very different institutional arrangements. It argues that Bulgaria’s ongoing state-building efforts risk deepening exclusion unless reforms are paired with protections for minority rights. Through this cross-contextual analysis, the piece highlights the value of ethnography for understanding inequality and the often-unseen consequences of policy on vulnerable populations.
The Return of Power Politics: Realism and the War in Ukraine
By Ofek Halachmi
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has reasserted the centrality of power politics in international relations. This article examines the conflict through the lens of classical, structural, and offensive realism, arguing that the dynamics of anarchy, security competition, and balance-of-power behaviour remain indispensable for understanding state action today. The paper analyses Russia’s bid for regional dominance, NATO’s balancing response, and the escalation spiral generated by the security dilemma. While acknowledging liberal and constructivist critiques, the article shows that realism most clearly explains the war’s persistence and its implications for European security. The return of great-power rivalry underscores the limitations of institutional optimism and the enduring logic of power in shaping world politics.
The Finnish Model Through the Varieties of Capitalism Framework
By Ofek Halachmi
Finland’s high-tech rise, symbolized by Nokia’s global success, challenges the assumptions of the Varieties of Capitalism framework. Traditionally classified as a Coordinated Market Economy, Finland’s achievements in telecommunications defy expectations that such systems favor only incremental innovation. This article examines how state-led research, education policy, and industrial coordination enabled Finland’s early success, while institutional rigidity later constrained adaptation to global market shifts. Through the case of Nokia, the analysis reveals both the strengths and limitations of the Finnish model and argues for a more flexible understanding of hybrid economies that move beyond the traditional Coordinated–Liberal divide.
The Netherlands and the EU: A Youth
Perspective on Two-Level Dynamics
Ahead of the 2025 Elections
This article explores how Dutch domestic politics and European integration continuously shape one another. Written by students from European Horizons Leiden and Jonge Europese Federalisten Nederland, the report examines the Netherlands’ balancing act between EU obligations, NATO commitments, and national priorities. Through both “top-down” and “bottom-up” analysis, it investigates migration, defense, and youth political participation, revealing how Europeanization influences Dutch debates, and how young people are redefining engagement in democracy.
The Politics of Prophecy: Evangelical Influence on U.S-Israel Relations
By Ofek Halachmi
This paper examines how Christian Zionist eschatology influences U.S. foreign policy toward Israel. The author argues that while theology does not directly dictate policy, it shapes political rhetoric, lobbying, and symbolic decisions, especially when religious belief aligns with political opportunity. The study explores how dispensationalist prophecy becomes embedded in institutions like Christians United for Israel, media platforms, and presidential advisory boards. Case studies of the Reagan, Bush, and Trump administrations reveal how apocalyptic theology informs policy shifts. The article’s findings highlight religion’s enduring role in shaping diplomacy, particularly in the geopolitics of the U.S.-Israel alliance.
“All in One”: Illiberalism as an Ideology
and Practice in Hungary’s Authoritarian
Trajectory
By Tinatin Inauri
This paper examines the role of illiberalism in Hungary’s authoritarian turn under Viktor Orbán and the Fidesz party. While some authors argue that illiberalism is solely a counter-response to the liberal democratic order, Tinatin Inauri argues the Hungarian case illustrates that, besides being a guiding ideology, it serves as a strategic tool and plays a crucial role in the gradual subversion of democratic principles. By situating the case within the broader literature, she posits the Hungarian experience demonstrates that authoritarian trajectories can be ideologically grounded and challenges the notion that liberal democratic norm violators are solely motivated by the desire to stay in power.
Transatlantic Horizons Magazine Issue 1
The Chapters of European Horizons at Bangor University, the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, and University College London are proud to announce the launch of the very first Transatlantic Horizons Magazine!
This magazine gave our members the opportunity to be published internationally. This magazine marks the beginning of a new platform for transatlantic dialogue, and we are excited to see it grow with your continued engagement.
Can Europe Stand on Its Own—and Should It?
As the U.S. pivots toward the Pacific and burden-sharing tensions rise, Europe is at a crossroads: boost its defense autonomy or risk strategic vulnerability. In this incisive piece, Noah Azzouzi unpacks how a stronger EU defense posture doesn’t threaten NATO, it strengthens it. Discover why strategic autonomy may be NATO's best-kept secret to staying relevant in a shifting global order.
Read on to explore the dilemma, the gaps, and the roadmap for a transatlantic future built on partnership, not dependency.
