by “The Oakland Institute”,* California, USA
(31 May 2024) Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, the war in Ukraine has been at the centre of foreign policy and media attention. However, little attention has been paid to a major question at the heart of the conflict: who controls the farmland in the country known as the “breadbasket of Europe”?
by Wolfgang Bittner,* Germany
(25 January 2024) (Edit.) Is the WEF really a combination of capitalist consultancy firm and gigantic lobby? From 15 to 19 January, another meeting of the highly influential World Economic Forum (WEF) took place in Davos, attended by more than 2,800 participants, including over 60 heads of state and government. This time the motto was “Rebuilding Trust”. Author Wolfgang Bittner takes a dissecting look at this construction and its efforts to create a globalised, private-law, non-democratic world order.
by Robert Seidel
(11 January 2024) The impression is growing that elected governments no longer determine the fate of a state, but that other forces are increasingly shaping politics. This is reflected in the political, economic, military, and financial lockstep of Western governments. Examples are the case of the Ukraine conflict – including the negligent abandonment of Switzerland’s neutrality by the Federal Council in spring 2022, as well as the ghost-like confrontation course against China or the gradual suspension of democratic freedoms through new WHO or environmental regulations.
by Guy Mettan,* Geneva
(7 December 2023) Is war a good deal? Seeing the increase in conflicts in recent times, one might think so. The reality, as one can imagine, is different. The answer can be summed up in four words: it depends for whom.
Interview with Werner Rügemer,* Germany
(18 October 2023) (Edit.) Dr Werner Rügemer, a publicist from Germany, dedicates his professional work to exposing societal, political and social ills.
His latest book “Fateful Friendship. How the USA Conquered Europe”, is particularly explosive in view of the conflict in Ukraine, as the alignment of European policy, and especially that of Germany, with the USA on this issue is unmistakable. For Switzerland, too, the question arises as to why it is so aligned with the USA in taking sides in Ukraine.
Following a discussion event organised by “Swiss Standpoint” in Frauenfeld, the editorial team had the opportunity to talk to Werner Rügemer about his latest book where he was able to explain his positions in more detail.
by Ben Norton,* USA
(04 July 2023) The BRICS bloc’s New Development Bank, an alternative to the US-dominated World Bank, is de-dollarizing its loans, promoting local currencies, and adding new members: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Zimbabwe.