Articles by Miroslav I. Emejdi

What the Luxury Market Reveals About the State of the World

Luxury markets are often read as mirrors of wealth, taste, or social distinction. From a geopolitical perspective, however, they fulfill a different and far more sober function. They tend to react earlier and more sensitively to global uncertainty than traditional economic indicators. Anyone seeking to understand where power, capital, and trust are moving should therefore look not only at stock indices or economic forecasts, but also at the dynamics of the luxury market. The reason is structural. Luxury markets are

Latin America as a bridge between the United States and the European Union?

The geopolitical debate about the transatlantic relationship is increasingly shaped by narratives of decline. Shifting priorities in Washington, demographic aging in Europe, and a growing regional focus on both sides of the Atlantic fuel the assumption of a gradual decoupling. Yet this perspective falls short. It overlooks a region that could, in the medium term, help bring Brussels and Washington closer together again: Latin America. Historically, this Region has never been a geopolitical vacuum. Nevertheless, within transatlantic thinking it long

Tolerance Is Not Indifference – A Strategic Misinterpretation of the West

Tolerance is one of the central elements of the West’s self-understanding. It stands for openness, freedom, and the ability to deal with differences. Historically, however, tolerance was never intended as permissiveness. It did not mean abandoning one’s own positions, but rather enduring difference within clear rules, shared values, and recognizable boundaries. Early liberal thinkers such as John Locke and Alexis de Tocqueville already understood tolerance as a balance between individual freedom and social order. Modern democracies are likewise built on

Europe Between Defensive Reflex and Dependence

Anti-Americanism, Security Reality, and the Strategic Void in European Defense Policy For some time now, the European Union’s reactions toward the United States have appeared contradictory – at times even paradoxical. On the one hand, there is a growing political and rhetorical desire to distance Europe from Washington. On the other hand, even the announcement of possible troop reductions or structural reforms to the American military presence in Europe triggers visible unease. These two impulses sit uneasily together and point

On the Debate Over Europe’s Security Core

Europe finds itself at a geopolitical crossroads. While other power centers modernize their armed forces and regional conflicts once again gain strategic importance, the continent struggles to maintain security-policy effectiveness. The European Union possesses significant economic resources, yet remains strikingly restrained in military matters. NATO, for its part, has considerable operational strength but is politically and militarily dependent on Washington’s priorities. And those priorities have been shifting toward Asia since the Obama administration. The subsequent U.S. governments under Trump and

Kuwait – A Small Country with Remarkable Strategic Latitude

Anyone looking at Kuwait today sees a country that is cautiously – but with notable consistency – moving beyond the narrow confines of its geographic and historical setting. Wedged between Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, the emirate appears at first glance to be a small state whose strategic relevance is overshadowed by its more powerful neighbors. Yet that impression is misleading. In reality, Kuwait possesses a combination of political, economic, and societal resources that if used wisely can elevate it

Venezuela – How Far Will Trump Go?

Relations between Washington and Caracas have sharply deteriorated in 2025. What long appeared to be a localized state crisis has evolved into a significant geopolitical factor within the U.S. hemispheric sphere. The United States no longer views Venezuela primarily through humanitarian or diplomatic lenses, but increasingly as a security challenge with potential implications for regional stability. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the South American country holds the world’s largest confirmed oil reserves , roughly 303 billion barrels. Yet

The Influence of Aging Societies on NATO

Shifts in the global balance of power today are shaped not only by geopolitical decisions, technological progress, and economic competitiveness, but increasingly by demographic developments. While many regions of the world continue to experience rapid population growth, most states within the Western alliance are moving in the opposite direction. Europe and North America face an aging dynamic that has been building for decades and is now becoming visible in the form of structural challenges. Demographic change can first be observed

Germany’s Quiet Academic Exodus

In German migration debates, one question has dominated for years: How can the country attract enough qualified immigrants to cushion the effects of demographic change? Far less attention has been paid to a parallel development that has unfolded over decades and has now reached measurable dimensions. The outmigration of German academics. This movement occurs largely unnoticed, without major political confrontation, yet with a clarity that increasingly shapes demographic and labor-market structures. The statistical starting point is straightforward. According to Germany’s

Argentina Is Undertaking the Most Radical Economic Experiment of Our Time: Salvation or Collapse?

Anyone traveling through this remarkable country in recent months quickly senses an atmosphere oscillating between feverish anticipation and exhausted resignation. The long shadows of the past – hyperinflation, economic crises, political fragmentation – hang like a permanent fog over a state that once counted among the most promising economies in the world. Today, Argentina appears trapped in a historical in-between. The mistakes of the past weigh too heavily to allow a simple return to the old system, yet the country

The Fading Glow: How the West Is Losing Its Soft Power and What That Means Geopolitically

For decades, the West was not only militarily and economically strong but also culturally and politically influential. Its social and political model functioned as a global reference point and conveyed a widely recognized promise. Individual freedom, economic opportunity, the rule of law, and institutional stability. For many people around the world, Western societies represented a place of possibility or a benchmark for development. In recent years, however, this perception has begun to shift. The gradual decline in soft power, the

What the Geneva Talks Reveal About Brussels’ Limited Influence

The talks in Geneva between the United States, Ukraine, and several European states have, for the first time, provided a clearer picture of how international diplomacy currently envisions a possible end to the war in Ukraine. The discussions were based on a 28-point plan presented by the U.S. administration. In its original form, the plan required Ukraine to make significant concessions to Russia, including territorial cessions, limits on its armed forces, and a formal renunciation of a potential NATO membership.

Influence Without Expansion – Turkey Between Potential and Skepticism

Viewed through a geopolitical lens, Turkey appears as a natural crossroads. Its location links the Eastern Mediterranean with the Black Sea region and the Middle East, while simultaneously extending toward the Caucasus with cultural reach stretching even into Central Asia. This position provides Ankara with strategic depth that few other countries possess. Added to this is a demographic profile significantly younger than that of Europe, a large domestic market with nearly 90 million inhabitants, and a growing security-industrial base that

The New Appetite for Nuclear Energy

Who Stands to Benefit from the Renaissance For many years, nuclear power was regarded in much of the Western world as a fading technology. After Fukushima, the political trend seemed unmistakable. Decommissioning reactors, expanding renewables, and moving toward an energy future without nuclear power. Yet this phase of withdrawal now appears to be over – for the moment. Global uncertainty in energy markets, the geopolitical pressure of climate change, the need for reliable baseload power, and the desire to reduce

The Geopolitics of Motorsport

How motorsport became a mirror of global power shifts Motorsport – most prominently Formula 1- is commonly viewed as a sporting discipline focused on technical innovation, speed, and driving precision. Yet beneath the surface lies a complex web of political, economic, and technological interests that extends far beyond the sporting arena. Over the past decades, motorsport has developed into a global stage for geopolitical dynamics. The relocation of racetracks, the involvement of state actors, the influence of technological standards, and

When Terrorists and Cartels Walk the Same Paths

In public debates, “terrorist groups” and “drug cartels” are often portrayed as two separate categories of threat: the former ideologically motivated, the latter profit-oriented. Various studies, however, indicate that today’s reality is significantly more complex. In several regions, from West Africa and the Sahel to Europe and Latin America, security analyses show that terrorist organizations and actors within organized crime are intertwined in key areas. Overlaps can be observed in routes, service networks, financial channels, and occasionally even tactical methods.

Without a Strategic Compass: How the EU’s Climate Policy Weakens Europe and Strengthens Its Competitors

There is hardly a policy field in which ambition and reality collide as violently as in Europe’s climate policy. For years, the European Union has regarded itself as a pioneer in the fight against climate change. At summits, leaders speak of “historic responsibility,” “green leadership,” and a “new social contract.”´The goal is ambitious: by 2050, the EU intends to generate no additional CO₂ emissions, and by 2040 it aims to cut greenhouse gases by 90 percent compared with 1990 levels.

“MADE IN GERMANY“ under pressure: How China Is Turning the German Auto Industry into a Geopolitical Lever

Germany has never been only a nation of poets and thinkers. It has above all been a nation of engineers. Few sectors embodied that claim as visibly as the automobile industry. “Made in Germany” stood for precision, reliability, craftsmanship and for decades conferred foreign-policy weight on the Federal Republic. That very foundation is now under pressure. Not by chance, but by design: China’s industrial policy offensive is targeting a sector with maximum leverage. In the logic of great competitors, that

Luxury as Soft Power and Why High-End Brands Endure Crises

When the economy slows, interest rates rise, and consumers tighten their wallets, most industries feel the pain equally. Yet the luxury sector defies this logic with remarkable resilience. While tech firms downsize and automakers struggle to protect their margins, brands like Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton continue to thrive as if operating within an economy of their own. What appears at first glance to be a paradox is, on closer inspection, perhaps the most efficiently organized power machine of the

Why the Gulf May Be on the Verge of a Golden Era

Whoever looks at the Arabian Peninsula today sees a region not in decline, but in transformation. The Gulf is no longer merely a supplier of oil. It has become a geopolitical actor. A power center between East and West that increasingly defines its role on the world stage with self-assured precision. Amid global uncertainty and regional tension, new dynamics are emerging that could shape the decades ahead. From Crisis Zone to Strategic Hub Only a few years ago, many observers

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