Hannes Swoboda
(Politischer) Widerstand mit Verantwortung

Kürzlich fanden in Fresach in Kärnten die 12. Europäischen Toleranzgespräche statt. Wenige Wochen vor dem 100. Geburtstag der – allerdings schon mit 47 Jahren verstorbenen – großen österreichischen Schriftstellerin Ingeborg Bachmann fanden die Diskussionen unter dem Titel „Widerstand und/mit/aus Verantwortung“ statt. Bachmann hat in ihren Romanen, Essays, Reden etc. die Nachkriegszeit schonungslos analysiert und seziert. Gegen viele Konventionen hat sie Widerstand geleistet aber immer mit Verantwortung für das Ganze. In meiner – hier veröffentlichten – Eröffnungsrede betonte ich die Notwendigkeit, bei und im Widerstand nie das Ziel einer gerechten und für alle Chancen bietenden Gesellschaft aus den Augen zu verlieren. Und es geht auch um den Beitrag des Widerstands zum Frieden sowohl im Inneren als auch zwischen Staaten.

(Politischer) Widerstand mit Verantwortung
Katharina Hetzendorfer
How Trump’s Counterterrorism Strategy Frames ...

“We Will Find You and We Will Kill You.” This is precisely the quote President Donald J. Trump concludes the presidential foreword of his 2026 Counterterrorism Strategy with. Introduced in May of this year, this strategy is supposed to be the solution to all terror threats the United States are currently facing – after years of Biden’s “borderless” policies that allegedly fostered “left-wing sentiments.”

How Trump’s Counterterrorism Strategy Frames Liberal Democratic Values as 'Left-Wing Extremism'
Hannes Swoboda
The War Against Iran: Some Consequences

Since the success of the Iranian revolution under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran’s political activities became a divisive issue for the region. Iran’s combination of its nuclear aspiration with its continuous threats against Israel, its interference in foreign countries especially in Lebanon, and, later, with its support—together with Russia—of the Assad regime in Syria characterized a revolutionary and aggressive foreign policy. One must understand that it is that particular mix of aggressive elements of its foreign policy, in combination with its efforts to come as close as possible to acquiring nuclear weapons, which created or at least enhanced tensions and fears amidst the Middle East.

The War Against Iran: Some Consequences
Tural Akhundov
How Regional Turbulence is Reshaping the South ...

The South Caucasus has entered one of the most consequential periods in its modern history. After decades of armed confrontation, Armenia and Azerbaijan are engaged in an unprecedented normalization process that has raised realistic expectations for a formal peace treaty. At the same time, however, the region finds itself surrounded by escalating geopolitical turbulence - from instability involving Iran to broader disruptions across the Middle East and Eurasian transport routes. These developments place the South Caucasus at the intersection of peacebuilding, strategic trade competition, and regional security risks. While new opportunities are emerging, so too are vulnerabilities that could influence the implementation of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace and the future of the Middle Corridor.

How Regional Turbulence is Reshaping the South Caucasus
Hannes Swoboda
Europe, Culture, Technology, and Citizens ...

How can and should we define culture when we are discussing its possible contribution to the European project? Culture—and especially the arts like movies, theater performances, novels, visual arts, community projects—should not be forced to take the one or the other form of expression. Art must be free to limit itself to bring enjoyment and pleasure to the people.  But in relations to our subject, we should use a definition of culture as a generally open-minded, often ambivalent, extravagant and even provocative contribution to forming and transforming society. Culture is in this respect closely linked to the arts and we should be aware, that it is also an elitist ‘project’. Even as it has an elitist background, it can be presented and used to win the attention and support of a wider public and by this have an important political effect.

Europe, Culture, Technology, and Citizens Belonging

US-Objectives in Iran: Surrender or Early Exit?

US-Objectives in Iran: Surrender or Early Exit?

President Trump has demanded the “unconditional surrender” of Iran. At the same time, he has claimed that the war would be over within four—and later six—weeks. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville added that the “conflict should be very short and sweet”. The President later even referred to the war in Iran as a “short-term excursion”. A complete regime change through an air campaign alone appears unlikely, given Iran’s deeply entrenched political structures. A genuine revolution that does not leave at least parts of the old system intact would require far more than a simple reorganization of the administrative apparatus or the replacement of one group of rulers by another faction from the old elite.

Freiheit im Iran

Freiheit im Iran

Seit dem 28. Dezember 2025 gehen im Iran wieder Menschen zu Tausenden auf die Straße. Diesmal nicht als Reaktion auf einen einzelnen Todesfall wie 2022. Diesmal aus einer akkumulierten Erschöpfung heraus: wirtschaftlicher Kollaps, politische Hoffnungslosigkeit, und das Wissen, dass das Regime seit dem zwölftägigen Krieg mit Israel im Sommer 2025 regional geschwächt ist wie nie zuvor.

Das Regime reagiert auf diese äußere Schwäche mit verstärkter innerer Gewalt – ein Muster, das wir historisch immer wieder beobachten können: Wer nach außen verliert, kompensiert nach innen.

IRAN: BEVÖLKERUNG BLEIBT IM WIDERSTAND

IRAN: BEVÖLKERUNG BLEIBT IM WIDERSTAND

Die USA und Israel haben mit „Epic Fury“ neuerlich eine das Völkerrecht klar verletzende Militärintervention gestartet. Führende Köpfe wurden getötet, und nun hoffen Trump und Netanyahu, dass die Bevölkerung aufsteht und das Regime auf den „Misthaufen der Geschichte“ wirft. Aber inwieweit können solche Interventionen von außen zu einer siegreichen Revolution im Inneren beitragen? Jedenfalls, die illegale Aktion von Israel und den USA ändert nichts daran, dass das Regime unter der Führung des jetzt getöteten Geistlichen Oberhaupts Chamenei ein furchtbares und für viele Menschen tödliches Regime war.

EUROPE SHOWS A STRONGER DEFENSE COHESION. IT MUST NOW ADVANCE ITS ARMS CONTROL INTERESTS

EUROPE SHOWS A STRONGER DEFENSE COHESION. IT MUST NOW ADVANCE ITS ARMS CONTROL INTERESTS

The erosion of the rules-based global order has been a constant topic of discussion in the last few years. One of the most serious illustrations of that trend is the end of half a century of bilateral arms control agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union, then Russia, with the expiry earlier this month of New START—the last in the long line of negotiated bilateral agreements to bring down nuclear arsenals.

CHINA - EUROPE’S NEW FAVORITE PARTNER?

CHINA - EUROPE’S NEW FAVORITE PARTNER?

Europe’s neighbor Russia and its ally the United States, both are - in different ways - challenging a Europe which wants peace on its continent built on a strong transatlantic alliance. Russia is still our neighbor and Europe - economically and militarily - is closely connected with the U.S. Nevertheless, Europe has to look for new partners around the globe. The challenges posed by Russia and the Unites Stares are too long-term and decisive to neglect.