John Foster / 24 Nov 2023
Condemned to Barbarism
The Populist Doomloop
It’s not that there’s a spectre haunting Europe. It’s that there are too many.(...)
Populism
John Foster / 17 Nov 2023
Between Two Nationalisms
The Spanish Challenge
Breathe easy. Spain’s Socialist leader, Pedro Sánchez, has won a second term in office. This is the best possible outcome of the July election. Not just for Spain but also for Europe.(...)
Josh White / 13 Nov 2023
Post-Colonial Populist
Suella Braverman’s Hate March
This year’s Armistice Day commemoration was threatened by a pro-Palestinian demonstration. That’s what some people want you to believe.(...)
John Foster / 03 Nov 2023
When Left is Right
The Sahra Wagenknecht Experience
It was inevitable that Sahra Wagenknecht ditched Die Linke. From her perspective, she was the only thing keeping the party afloat.(...)
Udi Raz / 11 Oct 2023
Jews But Foreigners
The German Contradiction
Over the last four years, I have collected countless pieces of evidence of how the idea of Germany - whatever Germans tell themselves about what Germany was, what it is, and what it should become - is interwoven with narratives claiming 'Jews' and 'Arabs' are different from each other, and deeply rooted in a state of enmity.(...)
Josh White / 09 Oct 2023
Media Monster
Rupert Murdoch’s Legacy, Part I
It’s the biggest story to hit the media business in years. Rupert Murdoch’s resignation is the end of an era.(...)
Joel Schalit / 11 Sep 2023
Reading Politics
The Battleground’s Fall Books List
Journalists don't read books. Or if they do, very sparingly. Trained to follow the 24-hour news cycle, they focus on the daily flow of events, hour by hour, minute by minute. That's the narrative we know.(...)
Maxime Sattonnay / 04 Aug 2023
Spanish Election Lessons
The Alex Llonch Interview
Targeted messaging has never been more important to politics. Using the right technology, it can level the playing field between new and established parties.(...)
John Foster / 28 Jul 2023
When the Press Fails
The 2023 Spanish Election
For the last two months, Anglo news media said the same thing: A far-right wave is sweeping Europe, and Spain would be its next conquest.(...)
Maxime Sattonnay / 20 Jul 2023
Making Spain Far-Right Again
The Verónica Fumanal Interview
It's all about the truth. Veteran Spanish political consultant Verónica Fumanal spoke with The Battleground about the impact of the 2023 election campaign on the country's press.(...)