As we bring this issue to print, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment with the recent results of the US presidential election marking Donald Trump’s return to the White House. There is little doubt that this shift signals significant changes ahead, with far-reaching impacts on geopolitics and the political landscape, also in Central and Eastern Europe. Trump is often described as “unpredictable,” especially when it comes to foreign policy. This unpredictability mirrors the core theme of this issue: uncertainty.
Tony van der Togt opens the issue by examining how Europe might navigate these turbulent times, posing a vital question: “How prepared is Europe to assert its own sovereignty and make independent decisions?” Among the many challenges, the continued uncertainty surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine looms especially large, with implications that extend far beyond the region. The Trump team has outlined a plan for ending the war, however the terms are unclear and Ukraine, as the victim of unprovoked aggression, deserves its interests to be considered in any peace agreement. Author Sofia Oliinyk points out that any negotiations need to respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and foster a just and lasting peace for its people.
Looking further, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu may have secured a second term, yet her push for a referendum on Moldova’s European future faced near-collapse due to intense Russian interference. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party retained power amid widespread accusations of vote manipulation and an unfair electoral process. In the Western Balkans, aspirations for EU membership in North Macedonia and Montenegro are now on shaky ground, as political divisions and democratic backsliding pull these nations further from Brussels.
As the existential philosopher Karl Jaspers once wrote, “uncertainty is not to be overcome but understood”. In this issue, our aim is just that: to shed light on the uncertainties shaping our world, to inform you about these broader challenges and to explore how we might navigate them.
Finally, we asked our illustrator to interpret the uncertainty of our times for the cover of this issue. The result is an homage to Albrecht Dürer’s, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from 1498. Dürer’s original piece captures the intensity of apocalyptic fear of the 15th century, harkening to the Book of Revelation. While today’s situation may not be so apocalyptic in the literal sense, the cover does reflect the anxiety and fear that is currently felt in the geopolitics of the region and beyond.
New Eastern Europe is a new bi-monthly magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs. The magazine is the sister edition of the Polish version Nowa Europa Wschodnia, which has been on the Polish market since 2008. Countries in particular focus in New Eastern Europe include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, as well the Caucasus region - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, etc.
Articles in New Eastern Europe focus on a wide range of social, political and cultural issues facing this region. The journal includes original opinion and analytical texts; historical accounts; reports from correspondents in the countries with full colour photos; and reviews of books, music and film about and emerging from Eastern Europe.
Tony van der Togt opens the issue by examining how Europe might navigate these turbulent times, posing a vital question: “How prepared is Europe to assert its own sovereignty and make independent decisions?” Among the many challenges, the continued uncertainty surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine looms especially large, with implications that extend far beyond the region. The Trump team has outlined a plan for ending the war, however the terms are unclear and Ukraine, as the victim of unprovoked aggression, deserves its interests to be considered in any peace agreement. Author Sofia Oliinyk points out that any negotiations need to respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and foster a just and lasting peace for its people.
Looking further, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu may have secured a second term, yet her push for a referendum on Moldova’s European future faced near-collapse due to intense Russian interference. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party retained power amid widespread accusations of vote manipulation and an unfair electoral process. In the Western Balkans, aspirations for EU membership in North Macedonia and Montenegro are now on shaky ground, as political divisions and democratic backsliding pull these nations further from Brussels.
As the existential philosopher Karl Jaspers once wrote, “uncertainty is not to be overcome but understood”. In this issue, our aim is just that: to shed light on the uncertainties shaping our world, to inform you about these broader challenges and to explore how we might navigate them.
Finally, we asked our illustrator to interpret the uncertainty of our times for the cover of this issue. The result is an homage to Albrecht Dürer’s, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from 1498. Dürer’s original piece captures the intensity of apocalyptic fear of the 15th century, harkening to the Book of Revelation. While today’s situation may not be so apocalyptic in the literal sense, the cover does reflect the anxiety and fear that is currently felt in the geopolitics of the region and beyond.
New Eastern Europe is a new bi-monthly magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs. The magazine is the sister edition of the Polish version Nowa Europa Wschodnia, which has been on the Polish market since 2008. Countries in particular focus in New Eastern Europe include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, as well the Caucasus region - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Chechnya, etc.
Articles in New Eastern Europe focus on a wide range of social, political and cultural issues facing this region. The journal includes original opinion and analytical texts; historical accounts; reports from correspondents in the countries with full colour photos; and reviews of books, music and film about and emerging from Eastern Europe.
