Machado and the Nobel of discord: when bringing democracy through non-democratic means backfires
analysisAnalysis of political leadership, democratic legitimacy, and counterproductive effects in polarized contexts.
Journalism & Analysis
Featured publications and collaborations in Jot Down, Frontera D, Latinoamérica21, and the personal blog “El mundo desde un taburete”. Main lines of work: the Western Balkans, Serbia, the European Union, the war in Ukraine, nationalist populisms, and far-right movements in Europe. Additional collaborations include educational magazines such as Punto y Coma and digital media across Latin America.
“Conversion therapies” as the spearhead of the global offensive against LGBTIQ+ rights
analysisFar from being residual practices, these methods persist and expand as a political tool to roll back rights, even where they once seemed consolidated. Conversion therapies, known as SOGIECE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Change Efforts), are neither practices of the past nor marginal phenomena: they are the most regressive banner of a global offensive against LGBTIQ+ rights, a facet of the relentless advance of worldwide ultraconservatism. This reaction draws on the construct of “gender ideology” as a mobilizing force.
María Corina Machado: zeitgeist, dangerous friendships, and a risky courtship
analysisGeopolitical reading of alliances, narratives, and strategic risks within the Venezuelan opposition.
Stubborn realpolitik: María Corina Machado as a disposable resource
opinionReflection on international pragmatism and the erosion of political figures in highly instrumentalized contexts.
María Corina Machado: a controversial Nobel Peace Prize
analysisCritical analysis of the media and international construction of symbolic candidacies in Latin America.
Serbian student protests, or why the apathy of European societies is not the way to curb authoritarianism
reportageReport and analysis of social mobilization in Serbia in the face of authoritarian dynamics and regional passivity.
Authoritarian winds are blowing from Hungary. Viktor Orbán isn’t a fan of the gay scene
reportageA critical review of the rise of global authoritarianism identifies Viktor Orbán’s Hungary as one of its prime examples. Welcome to a world of double standards, where rights are being curtailed and an offensive against the LGBTI community is being pursued. A testing laboratory for Europe and for far-right populism worldwide
Serbia and the Hot Winter of 2025 (II): Students, Storytellers, Protest Strategies
reportageThey are not rioters or reckless young people looking for trouble. Nor are they isolated voices shouting into the void. They are activists, both on the streets and online, who take part in protests, document them, and call on others to join. Thousands of them use cameras, phones, and words to capture the pulse of a country in turmoil. Their actions are a form of resistance against a government that is steadily dismantling democracy and moving towards authoritarianism. Today, with the rise of far-right politics and nationalist populism across Europe and the world, we see ourselves reflected in the determined Serbian students. Their struggle in a country that is not a full democracy is a warning for what could happen elsewhere.
From Thuringia to Brandenburg: The Rise of Germany’s Far-Right Wave
analysisust weeks ago, we witnessed the far-right’s victory in Thuringia, and a near-win in Saxony-Anhalt. The winner in Thuringia is Björn Höcke, a neo-Nazi whose aggressive rhetoric is well-known across Germany. While he represents one facet of the far-right’s strategy—gaining power through elections—others lean toward a more revolutionary approach, and some are preparing to rebuild a lost empire, interconnected in a growing network. In this article, we dive into these dynamics, focusing on the latest developments in Brandenburg.