Russia's true ally in this war might not just be China or General Winter, but something more subtle and hard to defeat: the habit of living a miserable life. In Il Riformista this morning, I review Emmanuel Carrère’s latest, wonderful book, Kolkhoz.

Apropos Ceuta and the migration policies of socialist European governments, re-upping a longread I wrote a while ago for Noema Magazine on the case of Denmark’s hardline experiment. If this is a beacon of progressivism, be careful what you wish for. www.noemamag.com/inside-denma...

Inside Denmark’s Hardline Immigration Experiment | NOEMA

Once a beacon of progressivism, the Scandinavian nation has normalized the worldview of the far right.

noemamag.com

Watch this short interview with Zelensky to understand what this war is all about.

Morning run in Finland, where President Alex Stubb is still in great shape.

I’ve watched Mr Nobody Against Putin and realised that it turns Crime and Punishment on it head, showing what ordinary people are capable of in the pursuit of truth. My latest in Il Riformista is a review of this extraordinary, Oscar-winning documentary.

An 80-something president from Sicily. A 20-something tennis champion from Alto Adige. Celebrating a victory together in Rome after 50 years. That’s a flex only Italy can pull off. 🇮🇹

Just another day at the office, with 🇮🇹President Mattarella stopping by for a private visit.

The Italian cultural establishment can be unbelievably tone deaf. My latest: open.substack.com/pub/ellswort...

Rothko-Fra’ Angelico: the mashup that the world needed just launched in Florence, Italy.

Four years ago, the Venice Biennale featured drawings by Ukrainian children. In the one starting next month, the Russian (state) Pavillion will reopen. In Il Riformista this morning, I discuss this stunning reversal and the enduring Russia obsession of the Italian cultural establishment.

Always thought that Claude AI was very smart and now I know why. A notice from the district court of California kindly informed me that one of my books was pirated to train it. You’re welcome, @anthropic.com

From @theathletic.com: In her fourth Olympics, Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida said that she was proud of herself for not giving up and for believing she could have a family and be an Olympic champion. She has won two gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. nyti.ms/4ajyEiY

Remigration is word of the year, says @stephenkb.bsky.social in the FT. If you want to see the shape of things to come, check out our @noemamag.com longread on Denmark, where remigration is now in the political mainstream. www.noemamag.com/inside-denma...

Il compromesso raggiunto a Bruxelles per sostenere l’Ucraina senza toccare gli asset russi conferma che l’Europa è ancora quella che Ivan Krastev e Mark Leonard anni fa chiamarono la potenza erbivora. Mio editoriale su Il Riformista. www.ilriformista.it/leuropa-che-...

This is an excellent article by Helle Malmvig and @fabriziotassinari.bsky.social on the "Danish model" on immigration, with clear and detailed explanation of how being tough on newcomers has become a cornerstone of political consensus. www.noemamag.com/inside-denma...

Inside Denmark’s Hardline Immigration Experiment | NOEMA

Once a beacon of progressivism, the Scandinavian nation has normalized the worldview of the far right.

noemamag.com

Finishing a marathon in front of the Florence cathedral must be the true last remnant of humanism.

“The Danish case is less a model than a warning about what happens to democratic politics when politicians from the center & center-left move to the right to regain or retain power, rather than deliberating, informing & modeling responsibility & respect.” —Helle Malmvig & Fabrizio Tassinari

Inside Denmark’s Hardline Immigration Experiment | NOEMA

Once a beacon of progressivism, the Scandinavian nation has normalized the worldview of the far right.

noemamag.com

What happens to a progressive social democracy when it normalises the worldview of the far right? My latest longform journalism piece, co-authored with Helle Malmvig, in Noema magazine.

Noema Magazine@noemamag.com · 9mo ago

“The Danish case is less a model than a warning about what happens to democratic politics when politicians from the center & center-left move to the right to regain or retain power, rather than deliberating, informing & modeling responsibility & respect.” —Helle Malmvig & Fabrizio Tassinari

I knew that the FT comments section would provide the most plausible explanation to the 28 point plan for Ukraine

50 years ago today died Pier Paolo Pasolini, hands down Italy’s greatest modern public intellectual. RIP.

The latest fallout of the “negotiations” with Russia should show European leaders that their adulation of Trump’s foreign policy is not delivering. My latest in Il Riformista this morning.

An informal European council takes place tomorrow in Copenhagen, while Denmark is under an unusual amount of pressure from the west (Trump, Greenland) and from the east (drones). Why? My column in Il riformista this morning.

The great @nilsgilman.bsky.social of the equally great @berggruen.org published an insightful comment to the Le Monde profile, outlining the broader intellectual implications of what we are doing in Florence. Well worth a read: open.substack.com/pub/nilsgilm...

Planetarity and the Future of Diplomacy

The European University Institute's School of Transnational Governance is pioneering a new form of diplomatic training suitable for an age of planetary polycrisis

open.substack.com

Fabrizio Tassinari@fabriziotassinari.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Wonderful gift from @lemonde.fr for such thoughtful profile of our Florence School of Transnational Governance @eui-stg.bsky.social

Wonderful gift from @lemonde.fr for such thoughtful profile of our Florence School of Transnational Governance @eui-stg.bsky.social

Always a special feeling to co-author with a philosopher. Over at @projectsyndicate.bsky.social I partner with the great @daniel-innerarity.bsky.social on digital technocracy and future-less autocracies. www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...

Albania has appointed an AI bot as minister, showing how digital technocracy is hollowing out democracy. My editorial with the great @daniel-innerarity.bsky.social. For Il Riformista this morning.

Sunset jog after the storm in Florence. Beat that.

Last weekend, the Wizard of the Kremlin premiered at the Venice film festival with young Putin played by Jude Law. I loved the novel but I wonder why we are so captivated by brutal figures and I worry that works like the Wizard help cultivate their myth. My column in Il Riformista

It was bound to happen sooner or later… my interview on Alexander Stubb’s worldview, diplomacy and on our friendship. In Il Riformista this morning. www.ilriformista.it/la-sorpresa-...

Love this article... Europe without a contrast is disparate, a family constantly at each other’s throats, but with Trump to reflect on, it realizes what bonds it and even in the aftermath of Putin’s best laid Brexit, even the UK speaks as one with its brothers and sisters.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.

Donald Trump is becoming the greatest unifier of Europe since the end of the cold war | Fabrizio Tassinari