This week we focus on student debt in America, which is one of the many issues that Covid-19 catapulted to the forefront, together with what it says about social inequality and higher education policy in the US. On another note, we continue our discussion of European nuclear strategy by zooming in on two very different countries: Sweden, with its unofficial NATO allyship, and Poland, fully committed to nuclear deterrence. We turn to history to learn about the economic consequences of past pandemics, and we also look upwards at the new actors in space.

The current French political landscape takes on a fascinating nuance when seen through the lens of history. This week we trace the lineage of France’s political spectrum and explain why the Left finds itself on shaky ground. We also look at Macron’s strategy towards Africa: will he be able to make a clean break with the past? The future of money is digital, and now is the time to properly grasp what that entails for our society. Speaking of the future, ours won’t look as bright if we don’t invest in girls’ education today.

Is France undergoing a slow, but radical transformation? In a country where unity and centralism are key to its modus operandi, there is energy and potential flowing outside of the Parisian ivory tower. Speaking of transformation, the global population is aging. Staying healthy in older age is not a given, but it is not too late for a successful demographic transition. The repercussions of the latest escalation in Palestine are there to stay, and we reflect on the events as we move forward.

Let’s talk about manipulation, shall we? Our latest publication on state-backed information manipulation provides a broad analysis of how France fits in international information operations. Further on, we look at the EU’s competition authorities, as digital regulators tune up. Following up on our latest series, "Stronger Together", we focus on Germany and Italy’s stances on European defense. Speaking of security, we invite you to join a conference on Jihadism in Europe. And a roundtable discussion on Hungary and the role of the Visegrad Group in shaping the Europe of tomorrow.

We apologize for sending out the wrong newsletter at first! Here’s our corrected version. We hope you’ll enjoy this week’s read.
The team @Montaigne

With NATO supposedly "brain dead", America’s concerns with China, and a fragile multilateral framework, France and the EU must pursue strategic autonomy in light of increasingly diversified threats. In our new report, we lay the groundwork for a new French - and European - defense policy to ensure resilience and to strengthen its army. Speaking of which, our latest China Trends series looks into China’s display of military might in regional clashes and Xi Jinping’s ambitions. In other news, how has the pandemic affected climate action groups?

This week we open our new series Green Deal Reloaded - perspectives for a sustainable and just transformation of the EU, with thoughts on how to step up Europe’s climate policy aims. Speaking of Europe, the sudden decision by the UK not to grant full diplomatic status to EU missions is seen as an irrational and short-sighted move. On the other side of the Atlantic, Joe Biden has been sworn in and has addressed his nation for the first time. A fine dissection of his speech depicts his vision for the upcoming years.

This week, we are happy to share with you the first piece of think tank analysis that has been published on the EU-China Investment Agreement (CAI), the text of which is to be imminently released. There will be wins and losses, and perhaps, a more audacious Europe? Speaking of audacity, Iran pursues its uranium enrichment and gives the US an ultimatum. The US, on the other hand, also needs to deal with Twitter and free speech, just as the new administration is about to be inaugurated.

It is a pleasure to welcome you back. As a new year begins, we are determined to look forward and reflect on how we can collectively shape our future. We begin by looking at how Brexit can serve for both Britain and the EU to reflect on themselves and their future, and we have identified two key takeaways from this historic process of negotiations. As a full year of Covid-19 rounds up, we also go back to where it all began, and take stock of how China navigated the pandemic.

As we come to the end of this most peculiar year, we are witnessing the power of solid communities working in cooperation. We are grateful that you are part of the network we’ve built together around Institut Montaigne, which more than ever seeks to produce knowledge, to encourage transparent dialogue and to share diverse perspectives. Before we take a short break in this end-of-year period, here’s a look back at some of the defining analyses of 2020, the messages of which we consider important to carry forward into the New Year.