Resolve the EU – NATO Discrepancy: Make the EU Collective Member of NATO! (written for The European Views*)

Map showing the European membership of NATO and the EU demonstrating the EU – NATO Discrepancy: member of both in purple, EU member only in blue, NATO member only in orange. Map: Joebloggsy, Wikipedia
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

The EU as a collective member of NATO would enhance the capabilities of the Alliance, rather than “duplicate” them.


Continue reading “Resolve the EU – NATO Discrepancy: Make the EU Collective Member of NATO! (written for The European Views*)”

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‘Pre-Columbian’ Should Be Applied to Europe and the ‘Old World’. Bulgarian Archaeology and History Suggest So (written for ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com)

The annual Ancient Roman market at the Sexaginta Prista Fortress in Bulgaria’s Ruse does justice to the fact that the Romans, for all their might, had a cuisine that was “Pre-Columbian”. Photo: Ruse Regional Museum of History
(*This opinion & history feature article was written by Ivan Dikov for Pax Glocalica's sister publication, ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com)

When a person from the “Old World” (Africa, Asia, Europe) goes to the United States, they invariably come across the term “Pre-Columbian” at some point, regardless of their profession or the reason for their visit. Continue reading “‘Pre-Columbian’ Should Be Applied to Europe and the ‘Old World’. Bulgarian Archaeology and History Suggest So (written for ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com)”

Beyond the Brutal Journalist Murder: Bulgaria Is Going Very Bad and the West Isn’t Noticing (written for The European Views*)

A vigil honoring the memory of murdered journalist Viktoria Marinova. Photo: Video grab from TVN
*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Bulgaria doesn’t stand out much against the backdrop of all other major international worries for the West but its situation warrants closer attention in order to avoid potential trouble down the road.


Continue reading “Beyond the Brutal Journalist Murder: Bulgaria Is Going Very Bad and the West Isn’t Noticing (written for The European Views*)”

EU Must Adopt ‘EU English’ as Its Official Working Language after Brexit. Here’s Why (written for The European Views*)

Brexit poses a very intriguing question about the fate of the English language in Europe. Photo: Pixabay
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Britain’s supposed departure through Brexit is a golden opportunity for the European Union to seize control of its de facto official working language to the benefit of hundreds of millions of Europeans. Continue reading “EU Must Adopt ‘EU English’ as Its Official Working Language after Brexit. Here’s Why (written for The European Views*)”

President Donald Trump and the (Pseudo-)Liberal Elites Who Got Him Elected

Future 45th US President Donald Trump gives his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a thumbs up during the 2016 Republican National Convention. Photo: Wikipedia (A. Shaker/VOA)

Modern-day Western pseudo-liberalism boils down to grave misunderstanding and distortion of some of the most basic principles of the noble and lofty classical liberalism.

What you end up with is: “US President Donald Trump today signed an executive order on…” Continue reading “President Donald Trump and the (Pseudo-)Liberal Elites Who Got Him Elected”

Middle Ages vs. Antiquity: ‘Discrepancies’ in the Game of Thrones / Song of Ice and Fire Universe

In Game of Thrones, absolute monarch Daenerys Targaryen, who even possesses the ultimate weapon of mass destruction in the form of dragons, is, for all practical purposes, on a quest for turning slaves into serfs. Photo: HBO/GOT

Fantasy works, especially awesome ones such as Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire, could be deemed immune from criticism; however, comparisons with real history are in order. Continue reading “Middle Ages vs. Antiquity: ‘Discrepancies’ in the Game of Thrones / Song of Ice and Fire Universe”

Game of Thrones Is Terrific but Why Are Humans So Enchanted with Feudalism?

“Winter is coming…” Replace “winter” with “feudalism” which in today’s world seems to strive to resonquer even the small portions of the world that it once lost. Photo: HBO/GOT

The worldwide enchantment with Game of Thrones also reveals humanity’s top destructive pathology: craving for some lord’s domination, namely, feudalism.

Continue reading “Game of Thrones Is Terrific but Why Are Humans So Enchanted with Feudalism?”

Special Relationship’s Specialness: Why Britain (England) *Could* Do Fine after Brexit

Brexit negotiators,the UK’s David Davis, and the EU’s Michel Barnier, in Brussels. Photo: Video grab from YouTube

A post-Brexit Britain (England) could fare decently on its own since it remains armed with the Anglo-Saxon principles in government, and everything else.

Continue reading “Special Relationship’s Specialness: Why Britain (England) *Could* Do Fine after Brexit”

Brexiting Britain’s ‘Special Relationship’ with the USA: Not So Special Anymore!

The UK’s special relationship with the US might suffer under Trump and May because of. Photo: Video grab from YouTube

Britain is to rely increasingly on its special relationship with America because of Brexit; yet, because of  Brexit that relationship won’t be so special anymore.

Continue reading “Brexiting Britain’s ‘Special Relationship’ with the USA: Not So Special Anymore!”

Oliver Stone’s Putin Interviews: How a Hollywood Director Can Make a ‘Useful Idiot’ Out of Himself

US film director Oliver Stone and Russian President Vladimir Putin viewing a video on a smartphone. Photo: Video grab from The Putin Interviews

Award-winning Hollywood director Oliver Stone has seen a past which has never worked. Continue reading “Oliver Stone’s Putin Interviews: How a Hollywood Director Can Make a ‘Useful Idiot’ Out of Himself”

When Trump Is Right: NATO Europeans’ Buck Passing, Free-Riding Shame

The Trump Administration does have a point about NATO member states’ defense spending, if nothing else. Photo: Video grab from YouTube

Hey, perhaps Trump could become the US President to manage to get the Europeans to start paying for their own defense, and build up their own militaries to be able to protect themselves!

Continue reading “When Trump Is Right: NATO Europeans’ Buck Passing, Free-Riding Shame”

Emmanuel Macron: The New and Real Hope for France and Europe

Centrist Emmanuel Macron (right) and far-right Marine Le Pen during their televised debate before the second round of the 2017 French presidential elections. Photo: Video grab from YouTube

Against the backdrop of growing challenges and ugly political faces, Emmanuel Macron’s potential election as President of France is a beacon of hope for his country and beyond. Continue reading “Emmanuel Macron: The New and Real Hope for France and Europe”

UN *Can* Help with Somalia’s Famine: Less Hypocrisy and Intra-UN Fundraising!

The Secretary-General meets South Sudanese refugees during a visit to Imvepi settlement in northern Uganda in June 2017. UN Photo/Mark Garten

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for example, can easily spare USD 100,000 from his USD 220,000 annual salary to feed a few hungry souls – for all those nice photo ops with the wretched of the Earth with whom he enjoys shaking hands. Continue reading “UN *Can* Help with Somalia’s Famine: Less Hypocrisy and Intra-UN Fundraising!”

When the Germans Marching East Is a Good Thing. Can Germany Handle It?

German military equipment arriving in Lithuania as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence. Photo: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense

Germany needs to stand up, not as an aggressor or an imperialist power of the past, but as a defender of democracy. Continue reading “When the Germans Marching East Is a Good Thing. Can Germany Handle It?”

CETA Is Actually Going to Hurt the EU and the West. A Lot.

The leaders of the EU and Canada, seen here in September 2016, are strangely ecstatic over the signing of CETA, a secretive trade liberalization deal that will likely worsen inequality in Europe, erode EU standards, and humiliate EU member states. Photo: European Commission

CETA will debilitate further the vanishing EU middle class as well as the building blocks of the European Union, i.e. its member states. Continue reading “CETA Is Actually Going to Hurt the EU and the West. A Lot.”

The EU That Should Have Pulled Itself Together Long before Trump

European Council President Donald Tusk has been outspoken in naming the threats to the EU. But to what end? Photo: Tusk on Twitter

The good people of the EU have had every chance to solidify their supra-national state as a benevolent power but didn’t.

Also, between Donald Trump and Donald Tusk, I like Donald Duck best… Continue reading “The EU That Should Have Pulled Itself Together Long before Trump”

Has China Just Made Its Big Geopolitical Break? Or Is It about To?

Probably the best map to illustrate China’s perspective and the geopolitical importance of the Philippines for it. Map: Geopolitical Futures

China might have achieved a major geopolitical breakthrough mainly thanks to domestic shifts in some of the top US allies in the Asia-Pacific region. If it permanently secures them on its side, this might be a game changer for the geopolitics of the entire globe. Continue reading “Has China Just Made Its Big Geopolitical Break? Or Is It about To?”

Macedonia: More Scary Skeletons Are Yet to Break Out of Yugoslavia’s Closet

Dozens of classical-like monuments often criticized as kitschy were built by the Gruevski government in Macedonia’s capital Skopje to boost nationalist sentiment in the so called Skopje 2014 project. Photo: Wikipedia, Raso

The ugly disintegration of the former Yugoslavia is probably far from over. The Republic of Macedonia could be the next time bomb. Continue reading “Macedonia: More Scary Skeletons Are Yet to Break Out of Yugoslavia’s Closet”

New US President Trump’s ‘Muslim Travel Ban’: Much Bravado about Nothing!

Trump might already be doing good on his campaign promises regardless of how detrimental they might be for American interests and world peace. Photo: Gage Skidmore, Wikipedia

Trump’s “Muslim Travel Ban” will yield few practical benefits while boosting anti-Americanism around the globe. Yet, Trump’s doing it – because HE CAN. Continue reading “New US President Trump’s ‘Muslim Travel Ban’: Much Bravado about Nothing!”

Will Trump Let Eastern Europe Be ‘Trumpled’? By Russia or by Turkey?

Is this Cold War sign from West Berlin what’s awaiting Eastern Europe under America’s new President Donald Trump? Photo: Wikipedia

In the past few years, the cornerstone of Eastern Europe’s progress, the US security umbrella, has started to seem increasingly, and dreadfully, shaky. Continue reading “Will Trump Let Eastern Europe Be ‘Trumpled’? By Russia or by Turkey?”

Spotlight and the (Newspaper) Journalism the World Is Losing and Bulgaria Never Had

Part of one of the official posters for “Spotlight”. Photo: Spotlight the Film

The Spotlight movie conveys in a captivating manner the now almost completely gone meticulousness, depth, and romanticism of old-school, traditional media, among all else.  Continue reading “Spotlight and the (Newspaper) Journalism the World Is Losing and Bulgaria Never Had”