By Martin Varsavsky
Martin Varsavsky analyzes the recent surge of neo-Nazism in Russia and highlights the irony that many people in Russia, the country hit hardest by the Nazi regime in the Second World War, are now adopting that same fascist ideology. Varsavsky offers that a main cause for this phenomenon is a European identity crisis that has particularly affected Russia, where a lack of options has left a sector of young people vulnerable to this violent and xenophobic movement.
The future of France depends on the center
By Miguel Angel Benedicto (for Safe Democracy)
Miguel Angel Benedicto analyzes the Presidential elections now in their second round in France. As the conservative Nicolas Sarkozy competes with lefitist Segolene Royal for the Presidency, the victor will depend heavily on the votes of the 18 percent of the electorate who supported centrist Francois Bayrou. In Benedicto’s opinion, whoever wins will have to deal with economic recession, and carry out the necessary reforms to help France recover from the impasse that has been slowing its growth since 1997.
Reconsidering relations between Moscow, Washington, and Brussels
Rafael Calduch Cervera explains the transformation of the Russian security agenda, culminating in Putin‘s speech at the 43rd International Security Policy Conference in which he promised to oppose the unilateral hegemony of the United States when necessary to preserve Russia‘s best interests. In Calduch Cervera‘s opinion, the current President of the United States transformed the history of past multilateral action by unilaterally invading Iraq, and Russia has followed suit, transforming its security agenda on all fronts. The Western powers must take Putin‘s statement very seriously in order to uphold good relations with Russia for the greater stability of Europe and the world.
How to overcome the reigning skepticism and dissatisfaction
Luis Méndez Asensio considers that despite its relative youth, the European Union is beginning to show signs of exhaustion: attachment to sovereignty, slowing of the economy, the regression of the welfare state, and conflict between its members. In Méndez Asensio‘s opinion, the only solution for a weakening union is the revitalization of its foundations, involving the citizenry of Europe in the progress and woes of the entire community.
An assertion invoking the (re)definitions of the political spectrum and sovereignty 
Ricardo Israel Z. explains why Europe can be content and very satisfied with what they have accomplished in 50 years, but nothing indicates that she is ready for a European Army. A common army is a complicated assertion involving political definitions and a different view of sovereignty as well as strategic, economic and logistical elements. Israel Z. believes that without its own military force, the European Union will have a difficult time being taken seriously as a world power.
Al-Qaeda and the Re-conquest of Andalusia
Adrián Mac Liman writes that Spanish intelligence services have abundant reason to be concerned about another Jihadist attack because of the Ayaman al Zawahiri’s latest message to the West. The advance of radical Islam in Magreb, just kilometres away from Europe, stands as a growing source of possible confrontation. Mac Liman writes that Jihadism does not always follow Al-Qaeda, however, and the real question to be asked is: Does the Muslim world actually want to re-conquer Andalusia?
From California to Vladivostok 
Rafael Calduch analyzes the dispute surrounding Turkey‘s membership to the European Union, drawing parallels to the expansion of NATO. In Calduch Cervera‘s opinion, while both are drawing upon the need to consolidate the geopolitical borders of Europe, the EU‘s growth tends towards restrictive criteria, while NATO‘s is based upon expansionist criteria. Calduch Cervera reflects on the changing energy market, the EU‘s need to juggle both Washington and Moscow, and the changing nature of Europe‘s security borders.
National interest on the wayside 
Piero Ignazi writes on the divisive nature of foreign policy within the Italian government. Despite the appearance of unity that Italy‘s rhetorical tradition of active participation in NATO and the EU might suggest, the center-right and center-left have been fiercely divided over Italian involvement in Lebanon and Afghanistan over recent months. The center-left has seen the rise of radical pacifism within its ranks, while the center-right has instituted highly contradictory policies of military intervention, ignoring risks in some cases and not in others. In Ignazi‘s opinion, foreign policy should be based on a country’s national interests and not on internal political conflict.
The last survivor of the Cold War 
Augusto Zamora R. says that even though no government will admit it, there are two things that continue maintaining the life of NATO: one, to serve the strategic interests of Washington in Europe, and two, to continue existing as the vehicle to combat the Russian enemy. In this context, the European Union presents a divide between the pro-European Europe and pro-NATO Europe. The Soviet Union disappeared as did the Warsaw Pact, thus it would be logical for NATO to do the same. But the opposite happened. The question is: What purpose can the Atlantic Organization have today?
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Sindication
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