The University of Amsterdam (UvA) just ended its exchange programme with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). This decision followed an advisory committee report, which states that there is a serious risk of systemic human… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES
Welcome to Monday Takes! Here, we publish students’ short, to-the-point opinion pieces about recent events every Monday. We invite you to share your perspective on any significant news story or event from the past week. This can be anything, from politics, culture, campus life, technology, or any other newsworthy topic!
MONDAY TAKES – Curb Your Privilege
In México, public attention for the security crisis often drowns in a cacophony of screams of over 450.000 murdered since 2006 and 120.000 currently missing people. This week, however, outrage and mourning is present across… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES – A Penalty for All, a Prize for None
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims all over the world, began on the evening of Friday, February 28, with the first day of fasting falling on Saturday, March 1. Yet, despite belonging to… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES – Fetishization of Palestinian Existences
On March 2, 2025, the film No Other Land won the Oscar for Best Documentary. In response to this award ceremony, an excerpt from Mohammed El-Kurd’s book Perfect Victims was widely shared on social media… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES – Gut Gemeint vs. Gut Gemacht—Why the EU needs smarter regulations, not panic
The recent Zelensky-Trump-Vance meeting wasn’t just a diplomatic snub—it was a planned humiliation. Ukraine came seeking security guarantees in a critical materials deal and got nothing but a cold, transactional shrug. Another hard lesson in… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES – Geopolitical BDSM: Will the EU submit to Trump or fight back?
If Henry Kissinger were to ask me today whom he should call to discuss tariffs (he wouldn’t, because this question is a myth), I would say the European Commission. The Commission alone must decide how… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES – The Absurdity of Great Power Politics
The ongoing “peace” negotiations between the US and Russia regarding the war in Ukraine are the twisted, yet logical, conclusion of conceiving world politics as great power politics. By considering only the interests and actions… [Read more]
MONDAY TAKES – The Art of the Deal: Keeping America first
The concern in Europe following the Munich Security Conference is understandable, but the developments we are seeing today are simply a continuation of the same strategy as used before. Donald Trump has successfully used the… [Read more]