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The world from Amsterdam, by Nick Ottens

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Nick Ottens

Nick Ottens

Nick Ottens is a public affairs officer for the Dutch Animal Coalition and a board member for Liberal Green, the sustainability network of the Dutch liberal party VVD. He is a former political risk consultant and a former research manager for XPRIZE, where he designed prize competitions to incentivize breakthrough innovation in agriculture, food and health care. He has also worked as a journalist in Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York for EUobserver, NRC, Trouw, World Politics Review and Wynia’s Week, among others.

Paris France

French Presidential Election Reveals Divided Nation

The same splits we saw with Brexit and the election of Donald Trump appear in France.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 24, 2017November 10, 2021

Social Democracy Isn’t Dead, But It Needs to Adapt

Social democrats lose when they try to be all things to all people.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 24, 2017November 13, 2021
Paris France

French Parties Collapse as Voters Flock to Blue and Red Extremes

France’s traditional parties have failed to adapt to a shift in the political landscape.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 23, 2017November 10, 2021
Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Jean-Luc Mélenchon Is Not the French Bernie Sanders

The French leftist’s views are much more extreme than the American’s.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 22, 2017November 10, 2021

Germany’s Alternative Succumbs to Infighting as Popularity Fades

Leadership battles continue to mar the nationalist party while the abating refugee crisis has taken the wind out of its sails.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 19, 2017July 31, 2020
Amsterdam Netherlands

Don’t Rely on American and British News About Europe

English-language journalists tend to project their own doubts about the EU on the people living in it.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 18, 2017November 14, 2021

In About-Face, May Seeks Mandate for Post-Brexit Vision

The prime minister calls for an early election despite earlier rejecting the need for one.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 18, 2017November 15, 2021

Trump Has Converted to Foreign-Policy Orthodoxy — For Now

The president has reversed himself on major international issues, but he could just as easily change his mind again.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 16, 2017November 27, 2021
Jean-Luc Mélenchon

Another Anti-EU and Anti-NATO Candidate Rises in France

Jean-Luc Mélenchon climbs in the polls at the expense of the center-left Socialist Party.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 15, 2017November 10, 2021

Erdoğan Asks Turks to Jump Off a Cliff with Him

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has already made Turkey into an autocratic state. Now he wants even more power.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 14, 2017December 1, 2021

Budget Deal Puts Spain’s Centrists on the Spot

Do they prioritize voters in Catalonia or in other parts of Spain?

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 13, 2017November 18, 2021
Marine Le Pen

Programs of the French Presidential Candidates, Compared

Left-right divisions have become less relevant.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 13, 2017April 4, 2022

Syria Strikes Signal More Pro-Arab Policy Under Trump

Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump doesn’t worry about being drawn into the Arab-Iranian cold war.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 8, 2017November 21, 2021
Angela Merkel Donald Trump

Germans Uneasy About Trump’s Attack on Syria

Commentators worry the American acted for the wrong reasons.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 7, 2017November 12, 2021

Trump Seems to Realize Assad Is No Ally Against Islamic State

The Syrian dictator is not going to help defeat the self-declared caliphate. He helped create it.

Nick OttensNick OttensApril 6, 2017November 27, 2021

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