Prof John O Brennan
@jobmaynooth.bsky.social
Professor of European Politics, Maynooth University, Ireland.
Posts on EU, Balkans and International Politics.
Author: The Eastern Enlargement of the EU.
Director, Centre for European and Eurasian Studies: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/europe
Posts on EU, Balkans and International Politics.
Author: The Eastern Enlargement of the EU.
Director, Centre for European and Eurasian Studies: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/europe
In New York, Mamdani has defeated the billionaire class which threw everything at him and still couldn’t take him down.
I have my doubts about whether this presages “a new kind of politics” but this is his moment.
I have my doubts about whether this presages “a new kind of politics” but this is his moment.
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
In New York, Mamdani has defeated the billionaire class which threw everything at him and still couldn’t take him down.
I have my doubts about whether this presages “a new kind of politics” but this is his moment.
I have my doubts about whether this presages “a new kind of politics” but this is his moment.
Is the EU too harsh on Serbia?
Lovely soft soap interview of the sinister ultra nationalist heir to Slobodan Milosevic at @euronews Enlargement summit.
Lovely soft soap interview of the sinister ultra nationalist heir to Slobodan Milosevic at @euronews Enlargement summit.
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Is the EU too harsh on Serbia?
Lovely soft soap interview of the sinister ultra nationalist heir to Slobodan Milosevic at @euronews Enlargement summit.
Lovely soft soap interview of the sinister ultra nationalist heir to Slobodan Milosevic at @euronews Enlargement summit.
I think many European leaders are sick to death of Alexander Vucic pretending to be a committed European while his party continues to ritually abuse the rule of law and cozies up to Moscow and Beijing.
Serbia will never join the EU unless it faces up to its past and ditches ultra nationalism.
Serbia will never join the EU unless it faces up to its past and ditches ultra nationalism.
November 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I think many European leaders are sick to death of Alexander Vucic pretending to be a committed European while his party continues to ritually abuse the rule of law and cozies up to Moscow and Beijing.
Serbia will never join the EU unless it faces up to its past and ditches ultra nationalism.
Serbia will never join the EU unless it faces up to its past and ditches ultra nationalism.
Superb piece by Ben Tonra in today’s Irish Tines, on Ireland’s strategic choices in a predatory world, with the necessity of a strategic pivot towards Europe increasingly apparent.
Everyone interested in foreign policy making should read this.
Everyone interested in foreign policy making should read this.
October 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Superb piece by Ben Tonra in today’s Irish Tines, on Ireland’s strategic choices in a predatory world, with the necessity of a strategic pivot towards Europe increasingly apparent.
Everyone interested in foreign policy making should read this.
Everyone interested in foreign policy making should read this.
The demolition of the East Wing facade of the White House is the best visual metaphor for 2025 I have seen.
October 20, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The demolition of the East Wing facade of the White House is the best visual metaphor for 2025 I have seen.
So we have a non-entity swimmer trying to justify taking performance enhancing drugs so he can make money.
Just another sign of the deep moral decline of our society.
‘Enhanced’ sport equals drugged sport.
The retirement manosphere is a very dark place.
@TonightVMTV
Just another sign of the deep moral decline of our society.
‘Enhanced’ sport equals drugged sport.
The retirement manosphere is a very dark place.
@TonightVMTV
October 14, 2025 at 9:44 PM
So we have a non-entity swimmer trying to justify taking performance enhancing drugs so he can make money.
Just another sign of the deep moral decline of our society.
‘Enhanced’ sport equals drugged sport.
The retirement manosphere is a very dark place.
@TonightVMTV
Just another sign of the deep moral decline of our society.
‘Enhanced’ sport equals drugged sport.
The retirement manosphere is a very dark place.
@TonightVMTV
Every day, a new attempt to deflect from the Epstein files.
September 26, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Every day, a new attempt to deflect from the Epstein files.
He wants the same kind of purge and show trials that Stalin did in the 1930s.
September 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
He wants the same kind of purge and show trials that Stalin did in the 1930s.
The nutcase who spent years screaming at Biden because of the Afghanistan withdrawal is now threatening to go back to Afghanistan.
September 21, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The nutcase who spent years screaming at Biden because of the Afghanistan withdrawal is now threatening to go back to Afghanistan.
This is becoming a regular thing - the United States murdering suspects rather than letting due process occur. Utterly lawless and likely to encourage other states to discard all established norms of legal interdiction in favour of executions.
September 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This is becoming a regular thing - the United States murdering suspects rather than letting due process occur. Utterly lawless and likely to encourage other states to discard all established norms of legal interdiction in favour of executions.
The Homophobe in Chief.
And, if there’s one thing he actually knows about it is cheating at golf.
And, if there’s one thing he actually knows about it is cheating at golf.
September 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The Homophobe in Chief.
And, if there’s one thing he actually knows about it is cheating at golf.
And, if there’s one thing he actually knows about it is cheating at golf.
Europe and UK being royally trolled by Musk, addressing the white supremacist March in London.
A crazed conspiracy theorist who uses his ownership of a media platform to promote ultra nationalists and fascists, and the regulatory response is to do nothing?
A crazed conspiracy theorist who uses his ownership of a media platform to promote ultra nationalists and fascists, and the regulatory response is to do nothing?
September 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Europe and UK being royally trolled by Musk, addressing the white supremacist March in London.
A crazed conspiracy theorist who uses his ownership of a media platform to promote ultra nationalists and fascists, and the regulatory response is to do nothing?
A crazed conspiracy theorist who uses his ownership of a media platform to promote ultra nationalists and fascists, and the regulatory response is to do nothing?
Now Putin sends drones to problems Romanian as well as Polish defences. He is emboldened because he knows Trump will do absolutely nothing to defend Europe.
European leaders still living in the fantasy world where Art 5 brings the US to aid Europe? Get real.
That world is over.
European leaders still living in the fantasy world where Art 5 brings the US to aid Europe? Get real.
That world is over.
September 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Now Putin sends drones to problems Romanian as well as Polish defences. He is emboldened because he knows Trump will do absolutely nothing to defend Europe.
European leaders still living in the fantasy world where Art 5 brings the US to aid Europe? Get real.
That world is over.
European leaders still living in the fantasy world where Art 5 brings the US to aid Europe? Get real.
That world is over.
This is VERY revealing.
1/ He never, ever blames Putin.
2/So many caveats are attached to punishing Russia, he knows it won’t happen.
3/ Europeans are on their own (“it greatly weakens YOUR negotiating position”)
4/ He won’t impose sanctions on Russia, even after Polish incursion.
1/ He never, ever blames Putin.
2/So many caveats are attached to punishing Russia, he knows it won’t happen.
3/ Europeans are on their own (“it greatly weakens YOUR negotiating position”)
4/ He won’t impose sanctions on Russia, even after Polish incursion.
September 13, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This is VERY revealing.
1/ He never, ever blames Putin.
2/So many caveats are attached to punishing Russia, he knows it won’t happen.
3/ Europeans are on their own (“it greatly weakens YOUR negotiating position”)
4/ He won’t impose sanctions on Russia, even after Polish incursion.
1/ He never, ever blames Putin.
2/So many caveats are attached to punishing Russia, he knows it won’t happen.
3/ Europeans are on their own (“it greatly weakens YOUR negotiating position”)
4/ He won’t impose sanctions on Russia, even after Polish incursion.
Trump, Musk and other US fascists have no idea who killed Charlie Kirk. But their violent anti left rhetoric is indistinguishable from that of the violent rhetoric of the drunken fascist who was formerly president of Russia.
September 11, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Trump, Musk and other US fascists have no idea who killed Charlie Kirk. But their violent anti left rhetoric is indistinguishable from that of the violent rhetoric of the drunken fascist who was formerly president of Russia.
Hard to believe that the president of a country actively carrying out a genocide is about to be welcomed into Downing Street.
September 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Hard to believe that the president of a country actively carrying out a genocide is about to be welcomed into Downing Street.
Just the President of the United States declaring war on one of its greatest cities.
Btw, who’s going to tell him how Vietnam ended? (Bone Spurs wasn’t there, after all)
Btw, who’s going to tell him how Vietnam ended? (Bone Spurs wasn’t there, after all)
September 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Just the President of the United States declaring war on one of its greatest cities.
Btw, who’s going to tell him how Vietnam ended? (Bone Spurs wasn’t there, after all)
Btw, who’s going to tell him how Vietnam ended? (Bone Spurs wasn’t there, after all)
The charlatans at this gutter rag will never tell the public the real cost of tax evasion by the wealthy (tens of billions each year).
How much easier to stamp on refugees, fleeing every kind of war and catastrophe imaginable.
Hitler’s propaganda rags operated in exactly the same way.
How much easier to stamp on refugees, fleeing every kind of war and catastrophe imaginable.
Hitler’s propaganda rags operated in exactly the same way.
September 2, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The charlatans at this gutter rag will never tell the public the real cost of tax evasion by the wealthy (tens of billions each year).
How much easier to stamp on refugees, fleeing every kind of war and catastrophe imaginable.
Hitler’s propaganda rags operated in exactly the same way.
How much easier to stamp on refugees, fleeing every kind of war and catastrophe imaginable.
Hitler’s propaganda rags operated in exactly the same way.
Some leaders opt to lead and show moral courage.
And then there is Keir Starmer.
And then there is Keir Starmer.
September 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Some leaders opt to lead and show moral courage.
And then there is Keir Starmer.
And then there is Keir Starmer.
These UK polls are increasingly shocking - but not surprising.
At what point will Keir Starmer and colleagues understand that trying to out-Farage Nigel Farage will not work?
At what point will Keir Starmer and colleagues understand that trying to out-Farage Nigel Farage will not work?
August 29, 2025 at 9:22 PM
These UK polls are increasingly shocking - but not surprising.
At what point will Keir Starmer and colleagues understand that trying to out-Farage Nigel Farage will not work?
At what point will Keir Starmer and colleagues understand that trying to out-Farage Nigel Farage will not work?
I hope this does not become the image that defines today.
August 18, 2025 at 7:47 AM
I hope this does not become the image that defines today.
European leaders are walking into a trap in Washington. Trump and Putin have already agreed on all Russia’s (maximalist) demands.
Today, Europe either repeats 1938, when Czechoslovakia was given away to the Nazis, or finally stands unequivocally with Ukraine.
Today, Europe either repeats 1938, when Czechoslovakia was given away to the Nazis, or finally stands unequivocally with Ukraine.
August 18, 2025 at 5:33 AM
European leaders are walking into a trap in Washington. Trump and Putin have already agreed on all Russia’s (maximalist) demands.
Today, Europe either repeats 1938, when Czechoslovakia was given away to the Nazis, or finally stands unequivocally with Ukraine.
Today, Europe either repeats 1938, when Czechoslovakia was given away to the Nazis, or finally stands unequivocally with Ukraine.
So much food for thought in David Grossman’s brilliant little book, written before and after the 7 Oct massacres, and directly confronting Israel’s descent into genocidal madness.
August 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
So much food for thought in David Grossman’s brilliant little book, written before and after the 7 Oct massacres, and directly confronting Israel’s descent into genocidal madness.
Arrive in Berlin to see small but vocal pro Palestine rally and an INSANE number of police. Very, very difficult to advocate for Palestine in such an atmosphere. But people do. 🔥
July 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Arrive in Berlin to see small but vocal pro Palestine rally and an INSANE number of police. Very, very difficult to advocate for Palestine in such an atmosphere. But people do. 🔥
You really couldn’t make this stuff up.
July 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
You really couldn’t make this stuff up.