Post-Brexit EU Is Finally a Union of True Humility. And That Is a Great Thing!

The European Union without the UK. Maps; Wikipedia
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Or why Britain is a lot more like the USA, Russia, China, Turkey, or Iran than it is like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, or Poland.


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Brexit Is Britain’s Final Opt-out. From Responsibility! (And What Did We Use to Talk about?)

Brexit Day, January 31, 2020, has a weird albeit an insipid feel to it, any way you look at it. Images: Pixabay
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Brexit is Britain’s biggest European opt-out – the opt-out from responsibility. Nothing more, nothing less.


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Can Franco-Germany Handle Becoming a Vanguard of Democracy after Brexit? (written for The European Views*)

Franco-Germany’s potential as a “vanguard of democracy” badly needed by the West is heavily limited by its unwillingness to commit to such a cause, its historical legacy, and some cracks that are emerging along the Rhine. Map: Wikipedia
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Franco-Germany seems like the only candidate capable of filling the Western leadership gap opened up by Trump and Brexit.

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Post-Brexit Britain Will Be Fine. It’ll Just Be a Downshifter: a New Zealand 2.0 x 10 (written for The European Views*)

A voluntarily downshifting world power, Britain is looking at a post-Brexit future of a large “New Zealand”. Image: Pixabay
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Losing influence inside and through the EU as a result of Brexit will amount to Britain’s loss of one its last trappings of being a first-rate great power.

Continue reading “Post-Brexit Britain Will Be Fine. It’ll Just Be a Downshifter: a New Zealand 2.0 x 10 (written for The European Views*)”

‘Killing’ Two Birds with One Nazi Salute: the Racism Outburst at the Bulgaria – England Match (written for The European Views*)

Seemingly organized soccer hooligans, for whatever reason, have brought major international disgrace to Bulgaria. Photo: Video grab from BNT
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Modern day acts of racism are especially perplexing and worrying given Bulgaria’s own tradition of tolerance, fighting for freedom, and sympathy for the oppressed.

Continue reading “‘Killing’ Two Birds with One Nazi Salute: the Racism Outburst at the Bulgaria – England Match (written for The European Views*)”

High Time to Rip Off the Brexit Band Aid. Rip Fast, Rip Hard, and Once and for All (written for The European Views*)

Continuing Brexit uncertainty is a recipe for a disaster of missed opportunities for the entire EU. Photo: MasterTux, Pixabay
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

In the three-and-a-half years since the Brits voted to leave the Union, the opportunity cost from the Brexit process has been enormous – for the EU, for the UK, and for the entire West.

Continue reading “High Time to Rip Off the Brexit Band Aid. Rip Fast, Rip Hard, and Once and for All (written for The European Views*)”

The Backstop to All Future Backstops: Didn’t the Brits Think of the Irish Border When Voting for Brexit? (written for The European Views*)

The excited headlines of the British press when the UK got into the EU back in 1973 remind of an era long gone. Photo: FlickR
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

The Irish border backstop quagmire is certain to make all EU countries think of their border regions if they are ever tempted to consider leaving the Union.

Continue reading “The Backstop to All Future Backstops: Didn’t the Brits Think of the Irish Border When Voting for Brexit? (written for The European Views*)”

EU Defied US over Iran’s Nuclear Program with INSTEX. Was It Worth It? (written for The European Views*)

The leading EU powers’ INSTEX special purpose vehicle has managed to “p*ss off” both Iran and the United States, even though it was supposed to placate both of them. Map: Wikipedia
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

INSTEX has created a dangerous precedent that can ruin future Western sanctions, while also disgruntling everybody.

Continue reading “EU Defied US over Iran’s Nuclear Program with INSTEX. Was It Worth It? (written for The European Views*)”

How Long before Russia’s Risky Toying with Europe’s Far Right Really Backfires? (written for The European Views*)

The European far right seems like a logical and huge temptation for Moscow but it promises a lot more challenges than benefits. Map: Wikipedia
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

Engaging with the European far right is unpredictable, risky business because you never what kinds of monsters it might produce.

Continue reading “How Long before Russia’s Risky Toying with Europe’s Far Right Really Backfires? (written for The European Views*)”

Look Back in Anger: How the Brexit Debate Was Framed All Wrong (written for The European Views*)

When “Leave” won 52:48 in the 2016 Brexit referendum, the English tabloids proclaimed “victory” as though Nelson had defeated Napoleon at Trafalgar. Photo: Pixabay
(*This opinion / analytical article was written by Ivan Dikov for The European Views website.)

The British people would never have fallen for Brexit, had the European values of today not been completely frozen out of the Brexit debate. Continue reading “Look Back in Anger: How the Brexit Debate Was Framed All Wrong (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*)”

How Bulgarian Rebels ‘Determined’ the Prime Minister of Britain: William Gladstone and ‘the Question of the East’ (written for ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com)

William Gladstone, four times Prime Minister of Britain (1868-1874, 1880-1885, 1886, 1892-1894), who used the Bulgarian case to stage a vigorous attack on the policies of the Conservative Party government of his arch-rival, Lord Disraeli. Photo: Wikipedia
(*This history feature article was written by Ivan Dikov for Pax Glocalica's sister publication ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com)

April 20, 1876 – The Bulgarians are making history their largest rebellion so far (later to be known as the April Uprising) against the Ottoman Empire in their quest for freedom and an independent nation state; meanwhile, in Britain, former Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader William Gladstone has been in opposition for two years to Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Benjamin Disraeli. Continue reading “How Bulgarian Rebels ‘Determined’ the Prime Minister of Britain: William Gladstone and ‘the Question of the East’ (written for ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com)”

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.

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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.

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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?”