In an era of misinformation and political polarisation, climate science is under siege. James Rice explores how social and political forces shape climate beliefs, arguing for a strategic, interdisciplinary approach to strengthening environmental communication and trust The post How social media and online communities influence climate change beliefs appeared first on The Loop ..read more

Relations between the EU and US are undergoing tumultuous change. Based on what we know from previous existential crises, the EU will coordinate its response to changing transatlantic relations using informal mechanisms and a pragmatic approach. Stella Ladi argues the EU must now develop a strategy for navigating this unfamiliar environment The post Europe and changing transatlantic relations appeared first on The Loop ..read more

Syrian refugees face multiple challenges in returning to their homeland. The threat of violence may have ended, but the destruction of infrastructure, along with social and economic instability, make return unlikely. Ümit Seven shows how prolonged displacement has led many Syrians to rebuild their lives elsewhere. Many, he argues, have created a 'pragmatic home' in host countries The post Why Syrian refugees are unlikely to return home appeared first on The Loop ..read more

International organisations are being challenged from two sides. Weak and rising states are demanding more influence, while declining Western powers turn away from institutions they helped to create. Benjamin Daßler, Tim Heinkelmann-Wild, and Martijn Huysmans argue that institutional rules can help balance power relations and stabilise international cooperation in times of power shifts The post How legal safeguards stabilise power relations in international organisations appeared first on The Loop ..read more

Rising geopolitical pressures, including an ongoing war in its immediate neighbourhood, have thrust EU enlargement back onto the agenda. Lucas Schramm contends that the European Council must reconcile the dual challenges of widening and deepening, as it has done historically. Despite formidable obstacles, enlargement could spur internal reforms and innovations The post ? EU enlargement and the critical role played by the European Council appeared first on The Loop ..read more

Yuting Alina He and Ruairidh Brown consider the thought and contemporary relevance of a Russian revolutionary and Soviet diplomat who became an early advocate of International Women’s Day, and the resonating ideas in contemporary East Asian societies The post Love, freedom and capital: the legacy of Alexandra Kollontai appeared first on The Loop ..read more

Sexism in politics restricts women’s participation and weakens democracy. A study by Hilde Coffé and colleagues on the 2024 legislative elections in Belgium reveals the impact of sexist attacks, stereotypes, and dismissals on women candidates, shaping careers, silencing voices, and discouraging future leaders. Tackling these problems is crucial for building truly representative politics The post ? Sexism in politics: a barrier to women’s representation appeared first on The Loop ..read more

The new German Bundestag will be smaller and more right-wing wing. And it will be more male-dominated. Corinna Kröber and Lena Stephan discuss how the political shift to the right and the new electoral law have influenced this trend, and the potential long-term consequences for women’s political representation in Germany The post ? How a new electoral reform has pushed women out of the Bundestag appeared first on The Loop ..read more

Across the Amazon, Indigenous women are at the forefront of the fight for democracy, environmental justice, and human rights. In a world where extractive industries threaten their land and lives, they are not just resisting destruction — they are transforming political systems, writes Camila Montero. From grassroots mobilisation to high-level policy-making, their leadership is shaping the future of environmental democratic governance The post ? Indigenous women defending land and democracy in the Amazon rainforest appeared first on The Loop ..read more

In recent years, gender equality has become a major political battleground. At the heart of this conflict is the 2011 Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women. Andrea Krizsán and Conny Roggeband examine which factors drive support or opposition to the Convention, across a variety of European countries The post ? Who’s afraid of the Istanbul Convention? Understanding the debate over gender equality in Europe appeared first on The Loop ..read more