European Institute

Book Review: "Once Upon A Time in Russia, The Rise of the Oligarchs, A True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder" by Ben Mezrich

‘Once upon a time’ is the way fairy tales begin. Ben Mezrich calls his tale “a dramatic narrative account” that runs from 1994 to 2013, tracing the rise, fall and death of oligarch Boris Berezovsky, interwoven with his partners, friends, and henchmen. They include the dour Georgian fixer-cum-advisor Badri Patarkatsishvili; his brilliant business partner Roman Abramovich; and former KGB and FSB (Federal Security Service) officer Alexander “Sasha” Litvinenko who refused to kill Berezovsky as ordered and fled to London where he was poisoned to death in 2006 by radioactive polonium 210.

Resounding Oxi (“No”) Vote Means Uncharted Future for Greece and the EU

After a week of shuttered banks and dueling rallies that drew tens of thousands of people, Greece’s voters resoundingly turned down a bailout package the ruling government vociferously opposed.  The landslide “no” vote on Sunday triggered many difficult questions for the country, leaders of EU countries, Brussels, and creditors — from the urgent, practical matters focused on reopening Greek banks Tuesday to the political consequences surrounding Greece’s future within the European Union.

11th Hour Meeting Signals Optimism as Bailout for Greece Takes Shape

EURO DEPOSIT WITHDRAWALS ESCALATE

As pressure on Greek’s banking system mounted with depositors queuing last week to withdraw €4 billion in savings, and the dire situation reverberating in financial markets, creditors today signaled that Athens’ latest package of reforms was “broadly welcomed” as a “positive step” in securing rescue funds needed to meet a key debt payment due June 30. The next 48 hours are critical in ironing out the details, officials said.

Perspectives:* Vladimir Putin’s Nuclear Brinksmanship

Notions dreamed up by a coterie of American nuclear strategy analysts more than sixty years ago might seem remote from today’s increasingly tense standoff with Russia. Not so.   They likely provide an important key to deciphering Putin’s seemingly bizarre behavior.  

New EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager Shakes Up Antitrust World

The press and the public were almost breathless in describing her: “a Goblin under Google’s bed;” “the enforcer;” “a very steely character;” “a tough cookie;” and “Queen Margrethe III” – all descriptions of a 47-year-old Danish politician who has suddenly become the most talked about official in the normally staid European Union bureaucracy.

In three short weeks this spring, Margrethe Vestager, the European antitrust chief, came out swinging, announcing the European Union’s intention, after years of investigation, to call to account some of the wealthiest, most heavily muscled corporations on the face of the earth –many of them American. If it wasn’t quite a match between The Amazon vs. Goliath, it was a reminder that international political power can still challenge multinational economic power in a titanic battle over the rules of the capitalist game.

"Russia--A Different Kind of Threat" by Eugene Rumer examines Russia as a superpower in decline, and how the challenge it poses to the United States is very different from that posed by the Soviet Union.

"EU-US Relations in a Changing World," a speech given in London by His Excellency David O’Sullivan, the European Union's Ambassador to the United States, as a part of Trinity College Dublin's Henry Grattan Lecture series.

Washington Post, June 22—Excellent piece on the roots of the Internet’s vulnerability to hackers, featuring early “grey hat” hacker group, known as “the Lopht” who testified in1998 to a Senate panel that the whole system, network, hardwire and software was riddled with weaknesses that would permit easy intrusion. This is the third of a multi-part series in the Post on security issues with the internet. Recommended by European Affairs.