https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/ en https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/20/06/2025/zeitenwende-enters-twilight-zone-international-law Cornelius Adebahr argues that we are creating a world without rules. The Israeli attack on Iranian military and nuclear facilities in the early hours of 13 June marks a watershed – for the region,… 20 June 2025 Cornelius Adebahr 7876 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/21/03/2025/ides-march-herald-era-mars Cornelius Adebahr argues that, at last, Germany appears to have understood what is at stake.  Much as the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in 44 BC became a turning point for… 21 March 2025 7766 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/08/01/2025/musks-support-extreme-right-points-necessity-democratic-transformation-germany-and Looking at the case of Germany, Cornelius Adebahr argues that far-right parties' recent successes with voters is often based on real deficiencies in democratic systems and a lack of clear… 08 January 2025 7678 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/11/10/2024/extreme-right-marches-europe-misses-another-wake-call From the polders of The Hague to the gates of Vienna and across the continent: the mainstreaming of extremism urgently requires a collective, strategic response. East Germany illustrates the case –… 11 October 2024 Sasha Havlicek and Cornelius Adebahr 7558 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/17/06/2024/devising-10-point-plan-how-make-eu-stronger-global-actor-european-research Cornelius Adebahr and Monika Sus details ENGAGE´s 10-point plan - presented to EU policymakers just days after the European election - to make the EU a stronger global actor… 17 June 2024 Cornelius Adebahr and Monika Sus 7416 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/26/03/2024/what-rome-ancient-and-modern-can-tell-us-about-europes-governance-challenges Cornelius Adebahr argues that Rome holds lessons for those worried by Europe's over centralising tendencies.   67 years ago today, on 25 March 1957, Europe’s founding treaty was signed… 26 March 2024 7318 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/05/03/2024/upholding-internet-freedom-part-eus-iran-policy Iran’s regime is using digital repression to control the country’s citizens and further isolate them from the world. The EU should ensure safe online spaces for Iranian activists and tie its Iran… 05 March 2024 Cornelius Adebahr and Barbara Mittelhammer 7292 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/11/10/2023/why-ai-will-change-core-foreign-policymaking Cornelius Adebahr explores the way AI may help the people, processes and policies that make up the foreign policy system. Much of the discussion on how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect… 11 October 2023 Cornelius Adebahr 7137 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/04/09/2023/rebuilding-global-governance-taking-cues-domestic-politics Cornelius Adebahr reports on how the next generation of leaders view the the future of global governance in a world where consensus-based, technocratic rulemaking can no longer be considered the… 04 September 2023 7093 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/05/04/2023/whats-worth-fighting-germanys-new-national-security-strategy-needs-narrative Cornelius Adebahr argues that the new strategy lacks a committed and engaging narrative at a time when the world looks increasingly dangerous. The speeches on the first anniversary of Russia’s… 05 April 2023 6936 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/18/10/2022/foreign-policy-innovation-dare-look-public-transport-germany The emerging global divide may be geopolitical in nature, but its effects are felt widely, from companies closing to citizens collecting wood for the winter. Time for foreign policy wonks to get some… 18 October 2022 6751 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/07/12/2021/merkels-other-legacy-or-why-democracies-are-searching-meaning Cornelius Adebahr argues that Merkel's foreign policy inertia is symptomatic of a wider Western malaise. In hindsight, it is ironic – and symbolic – that the outgoing chancellor who… 07 December 2021 6397 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/19/03/2021/deliberation-bring-meaning-why-citizens-should-discuss-foreign-policy It is no coincidence that democracies are looking for their role in an increasingly turbulent world. As old paradigms are shattered, governments should rely more on their citizens to help them chart… 19 March 2021 6075 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/12/11/2020/health-climate-digitization-taking-hard-look-transatlantic-relations-and Cornelius Adebahr argues that a return to an old, pre-Trump, transatlantic mindset will not adequate to address contemporary global policy challenges. Even though the repudiation of Trumpism… 12 November 2020 5931 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/24/08/2020/trumps-toxic-present-united-nations As the United Nations celebrates its accomplishments over the past 75 years, a final showdown between the world powers will shape its future. The world is in turmoil. In the shadow of global debates… 24 August 2020 Cornelius Adebahr 5831 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/11/06/2020/beyond-european-crisis-management-germany-needs-post-coronavirus-vision Germany is emerging from the first phase of the pandemic with some scars, but broadly in good shape. That only makes the country’s upcoming six-month EU presidency more crucial: In order to drive the… 11 June 2020 5742 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/03/02/2020/eu-giving-life-support-or-assisted-suicide-iran-deal Cornelius Adebahr calls for a more proactive EU. Teheran’s decision to abandon the uranium enrichment limits set in Iran nuclear deal put Europeans in a bind. They couldn’t leave Iran’s actions… 03 February 2020 5553 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/12/11/2019/experiencing-americas-polarization-east-coast-west-coast-speaking-tour Cornelius Adebahr reflects on America’s political polarization and what it may mean for the future. Political and societal polarization in the United States is palpable. I visited five cities, in red… 12 November 2019 5467 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/25/03/2019/nowruz-nation-why-40-years-after-revolution-iran-trumps-islamic-republic Faced with external and internal threats, Iran is resorting to old-style nationalism. This is not new per se, explains Cornelius Adebahr, but often overlooked in the wider debate about how to ‘change… 25 March 2019 Cornelius Adebahr 5174 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/15/01/2019/reorder-follows-disruption-rewriting-global-rules-seen-india GP Columnist Cornelius Adebahr on India's embrace of the loosening of Western dominance. With political commentators in Europe busy stressing the critical importance of 2019 for their… 15 January 2019 5056 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/18/10/2018/persian-spring-autumn-leaves-falling-iran-between-protests-sanctions-and-possible Cornelius Adebahr explores the prospects of a 'Persian spring' and what role outsiders may play. When people in Iran took to the streets earlier this year, some commentators were quick to identify a… 18 October 2018 Cornelius Adebahr 4909 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/19/06/2018/kosovo-country-or-cause-and-what Earlier this year, Kosovo marked the tenth anniversary of its – self-declared, not UN-recognized – independence. It is thus Europe’s youngest country, which is also true in terms of demographics: The… 19 June 2018 Cornelius Adebahr 4744 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/08/05/2018/its-not-insert-policy-issue-here-its-egomania-stupid Whatever the issue, the US president’s response is: me. Whether it is about Iran or North Korea, trade with China or Mexico – policy watchers have to understand that their traditional methods of… 08 May 2018 Cornelius Adebahr 4640 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/29/09/2017/when-domestic-politics-trumps-foreign-policy-united-states-and-iran-nuclear-deal In the run-up to the nuclear deal's second anniversary, Cornelius Adebahr warns of the need for a rational approach to Iran. For over three decades, American policy towards Iran could build on broad… 29 September 2017 4270 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/22/08/2017/triangle-trouble-can-nuclear-deal-hold Cornelius Adebahr examines Europe's options as the American-Iranian nuclear deal look set to falter. The geopolitical triangle between Europe, the United States, and Iran that brought about the… 22 August 2017 4193 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/31/05/2017/discussing-europe-and-iran-americans-or-travelling-commentariat-trump%E2%80%99s-first-trip-a Cornelius Adebahr dissects Trump’s recent wanderings among America’s closest allies. Prelude Europe – the EU and its member states – have a number of fairly existential issues to settle with the U.S… 31 May 2017 4058 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/27/03/2017/tehran-starts-grasp-eu%E2%80%99s-value-face-trump Cornelius Adebahr explores why the EU-Iran relationship cannot prosper if the Iran-US relationship deteriorates. While the streets of the Iranian capital are in a Nowruz lull, the politics behind the… 27 March 2017 3918 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/28/11/2016/security-sexy-defence-not-%E2%80%93-why-eu-continues-struggle-common-security-and-defence-po Cornelius Adebahr argues that although security is a sexy topic, these days the EU has more pressing issues to tackle. When the EU heads of state or government met for the first time as 27 after the… 28 November 2016 3713 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/27/06/2016/letter-my-british-friends Like you, I’m devastated. Stunned. Heart-broken. Like you, I was hoping, pleading for a Remain vote – if only by the slightest of margins so that we could repair our house together. Like you, I feel… 27 June 2016 3441 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/29/04/2016/tale-two-trips-or-why-there%E2%80%99s-still-no-common-transatlantic-approach-middle-east In the wake of evolving crises, Cornelius Adebahr explores the ever present gulf in European and American approaches to the Middle East.When U.S. President Obama met with Gulf Arab leaders last week… 29 April 2016 3329 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/11/12/2015/re-politicising-eu-enlargement Cornelius Adebahr argues that the EU cannot reduce enlargement to a technical exercise and must get political if it is to persuade its public and potential entrants its worth. Two things neither… 11 December 2015 3095 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/03/09/2015/us-congress-should-strengthen-not-kill-iran-deal Cornelius Adebahr argues that America must use its international support to ensure any deal with Iran is rigorously implemented. Good politics is not only about one’s principles but also about the… 03 September 2015 2855 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/14/05/2015/cooperation-iran-fraught-challenges Cornelius Adebahr argues interest based cooperation between the West and Iran can and should go further, regardless of nuclear agreement. For some, it’s the ultimate nightmare: An Iran alleged to… 14 May 2015 2657 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/16/03/2015/imagine-there-nuclear-deal-iran …and it would not change much, neither to the West’s overall relationship with the country nor to Tehran’s regional role. That is, of course, too simplistic a view on what would be a – possibly the… 16 March 2015 2551 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/23/01/2015/russia-makes-mogherinis-first-visit-washington-difficult-return Cornelius Adebahr unpicks Federica Mogherini’s return to Washington in the shadow of Russia. Closing in on the first 100 days in office, Federica Mogherini, embarked on her first long-distance trip… 23 January 2015 2451 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/13/11/2014/eu-enlargement-or-what-difference-date-makes Cornelius Adebahr argues that countries in and outside of the EU should consider reforms as continuing regardless of any official ascension date. After the experience of (prematurely) promising… 13 November 2014 2349 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/17/10/2014/countering-forces-fragmentation-europe In the wake of the Scottish referendum Cornelius Adebahr explores how Europe must reform itself to remain fit for purpose. After the Scottish referendum, commentators detected a new fault line in… 17 October 2014 2290 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/03/09/2014/saving-whats-left-eu-enlargement In the context of recent events, Cornelius Adebahr welcomes initiatives to continue down the path of EU enlargement.  World events – and history – seem to converge on the Western Balkans these… 03 September 2014 2199 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/26/06/2014/what-sarajevo-means-europe-100-years-later Cornelius Adebahr warns that the EU must tread carefully as it seeks to continue its enlargement process. 1914 is far away in a country with enough current problems of its own – from social unrest… 26 June 2014 2074 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/08/05/2014/defence-europe-or-why-eu-can-still-play-decisive-role-ukraine Cornelius Adebahr suggests the EU may be able to mobilize local and international support to address the growing crisis in Ukraine. Ever since a U.S. official spoke candidly about the role of Europe… 08 May 2014 1993 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/26/03/2014/beyond-butterfly-effect-what-ukraine-means-iran Cornelius Adebahr argues that finding a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program would be a much-needed counterpoint to the recent disregard of international norms and the decline of global… 26 March 2014 1877 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/18/02/2014/be-easy-easing-sanctions Cornelius Adebahr outlines why business has been eying the Iranian market with bated breath. While Iran continues its global charm offensive, the US government is having persistent trouble… 18 February 2014 1804 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/17/12/2013/enlargement-and-estrangement-brussels Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0… 17 December 2013 1725 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/21/11/2013/unusual-suspects-discussing-eus-role-world Why should local and regional representatives and officials from across the EU discuss the crisis-ridden bloc’s external relations, you might ask. ‘Because it matters’ would be too much of an easy… 21 November 2013 1677 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/21/10/2013/case-iran-teaches-eu-lesson-global-leadership After a decade of nuclear talks, a deal between Iran and the International Community may finally be in sight. However, what if the compromise found at the negotiation table falls through domestically… 21 October 2013 1603 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/12/09/2013/munich-everywhere-yet-explains-nothing Normal.dotm 0 0 1 951 5424 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 45 10 6661 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.… 12 September 2013 Cornelius Adebahr 1559 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/18/06/2013/iran-changing-maybe-little-yet-eus-policy-sure-should Last Friday, Iranians did what no one expected them to do: They flocked to the polling stations in great numbers and elected the ‚moderate’ candidate, Hassan Rouhani, as the country’s next President… 18 June 2013 Cornelius Adebahr 1471 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/20/05/2013/negotiations-elections-and-back-why-next-iranian-president-may-be-chosen-his Normal.dotm 0 0 1 1261 7191 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 59 14 8831 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.… 20 May 2013 Cornelius Adebahr 1422 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/27/03/2013/iran-goes-power-photoshopping Normal.dotm 0 0 1 1227 6997 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 58 13 8592 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.… 27 March 2013 Cornelius Adebahr 1355 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/13/03/2013/not-so-happy-new-year-iran Cornelius Adebahr argues that economic decline rather than the nuclear issue determine life in Tehran on the eve of the Persian year 1392. But a ‘perception gap’ between Iran and the West makes the… 13 March 2013 1345 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/09/12/2012/eu-shortsighted-iran-after-nearly-decade-nuclear-talks-union-risks-missing-bigger Normal.dotm 0 0 1 1165 6644 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 55 13 8159 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.… 09 December 2012 Cornelius Adebahr 1225 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/26/10/2012/independent-mandate-vs-foreign-policy-should-european-parliamentarians-currently Normal.dotm 0 0 1 642 3661 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 30 7 4495 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable… 26 October 2012 Cornelius Adebahr 1150 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/09/09/2012/why-iran-can-decide-us-elections-may-not-care-do-so Normal.dotm 0 0 1 1095 6242 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 52 12 7665 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.… 09 September 2012 Cornelius Adebahr 1087 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/19/07/2012/heart-evil-empire Normal.dotm 0 0 1 841 4799 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 39 9 5893 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable… 19 July 2012 Cornelius Adebahr 1015 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/02/07/2012/euro-unpolitical Normal.dotm 0 0 1 790 4503 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 37 9 5530 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable… 02 July 2012 Cornelius Adebahr 993 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/15/06/2012/crisis-germany-revisited Normal.dotm 0 0 1 768 4382 Wirtschaft am Wasserturm 36 8 5381 12.0 0 false 21 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable… 15 June 2012 Cornelius Adebahr 966 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/29/06/2011/putting-face-europe-north-africa-why-eu-needs-special-representative-respond-arab The European Union and its member states continue to struggle to find a response to the Arab Spring. Past policy approaches had little impact on the area’s regimes, if anything doing more to support… 29 June 2011 640 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/10/05/2011/commodity-boom-and-commodity-blues Rarely were the price increases so enormous, rarely was the helplessness of the industrialized countries so great as in the rare earths sector. While precious metals like silver or energy sources… 10 May 2011 600 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/12/04/2011/responsible-leadership-face-disaster Following the earthquake and the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, a state of shock, intuitive defensiveness and frantic political activity of those in charge of utility companies as well as in… 12 April 2011 552 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/18/02/2011/fitness-regime-european-union It started the New Year at 53, hopelessly out of shape and in the midst of an existential crisis of such terrible complexity the Greek Gods would wonder whether they hadn’t missed a trick or two. The… 18 February 2011 502 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/04/02/2011/why-cairo-concerns-us The Egyptian dream of a peaceful revolution may have vanished under the cudgels of goon squads loyal to the Mubarak regime – the dream of freedom certainly hasn’t. That is what unites the people in… 04 February 2011 480 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/25/01/2011/global-resources-european-confusion-time-re-think-raw-materials For tomorrow, 26 January, the European Commission had announced to present a revised EU raw materials strategy. Based on the 2008 raw materials initiative, the new document was intended to provide an… 25 January 2011 469 https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/10/12/2010/involuntary-union-european-economic-governance-and-union-state The political reaction to the economic crisis shows two things: First, in moments of great crisis, the nation-state is the first port-of-call. With economic stability at stake and large quantities of… 10 December 2010 424