Catalonia has no chance of getting a credible vote for independence this week. Kurdistan has already got one, but it's not doing it much good.
Category: Europe
Merkel winner or Merkel loser?
Why I think Angela Merkel's performance on Sunday was rather better than you'd think from the newspaper headlines.
Merkel wins, Jamaican
The leader of the free world is returned to office in a result that will probably see her in coalition with the Greens for the first time.
Who needs thresholds, anyway?
New Zealand copied its democratic electoral system from Germany, but also copied its least democratic and now pointless feature.
Election preview: Germany
Germans look set to vote their chancellor a fourth term, but the shape of her next government remains unclear.
A Weimar reflection
Some thoughts on the problem of political extremism, from the birthplace of German republicanism.
New Zealand a week out
New Zealand votes on the same weekend as Germany, with some interesting similarities and contrasts.
Left falls short in Norway
Norway's government is returned, partly due to the electoral system. Next stop, New Zealand and Germany.
Election preview: Norway
The non-rise of European populism continues, with Norway's establishment parties facing off in a close election.
The revolution in British politics
Britain's debate on the terms of Brexit seems to be producing a fundamental party realignment, as Labour commits itself to support of the single market. How far can this go?
The World is Not Enough 