From Der Spiegel, the rules of post-9/11 politics are reversed in Turkey, as a flareup over the prospect of an Islamic president shows. Western leaders are more worried about the Turkish military's intrusion into politics than about the ruling party's Islamic agenda. Genocide is not a fact: A review of La Perversion Historiographique: une réflexion arménienne.
From OstEuropa, democracy or the street? The demonstrations in Budapest in September 2006 marked the culmination of a conflict between Conservatives and the liberal Left. The rift is exacerbated by politicized disputes about the past; and a response: In the Hungarian case, it is not a question of whether history has been instrumentalized by politics, but of whether one approves of how it has been instrumentalized. Alshar, an ancient mine located in the southern Balkans, in Macedonia, is said to contain minerals that are found nowhere else on the planet.
From The Chronicle, what European Century? Euro-optimism has given way to Euro-pessimism. In that climate, the debate should be about which of the Continent's traditions and values can be saved, writes Walter Laqueur. Niall Ferguson on how Tony Blair's simplistic foreign policy landed him in Bush's lap and isolated from continental Europe.
Is Nicolas Sarkozy the French Margaret Thatcher? Although Sarkozy played the nationalist card during the election campaign, the future French president is still regarded as a beacon of hope for the EU., but he faces huge challenges, and the radical political and moral cure he wants to prescribe could instead trigger deep social conflicts in French society. Why Royal flopped: Her loss to Nicolas Sarkozy marked merely the latest in a string of missed opportunities for the Socialists in France.
Progressives' French Lesson: With their European friends in some trouble, American progressives may have both the opportunity and the obligation to find the new formulas. All France was transfixed as presidential candidates conducted a passionate, freewheeling debate this week. Why are American debates so intentionally stupid? From The Politico, what is the purpose of these debates? A look at why humans hate politics; a review of The Trap: Selling Out to Stay Afloat in Winner-Take-All America; and if an Old Boys' Club isn't accepting new members, the next best thing to do is start your own.
Does Oprah's magic touch extend to the realm of presidential politics? Last week, for the first time, Ms. Winfrey endorsed a political candidate, Senator Barack Obama. A review of The Thumpin': How Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats Learned to Be Ruthless and Ended the Republican Revolution. Generational Tensions: The sons and daughters of some iconic Republicans (Ike! T.R.!) are contemplating crossing the aisle. Can Fred Thompson rescue Republicans in 2008? In Orange County, the ex-Tennessee senator, "Law and Order" star and possible '08 contender acts presidential for a night. Jonathan Chait on how Republicans go week-kneed for tough guys. And Michael Barone on the realignment of America
