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CC: Stains on the Marble
Her lungs stung with each breath she took in, the air like needles against her cheeks as she sped over the cobblestones. The sun had long set, the moon had not shown itself that night, and the sky hung heavy, as if smothered under damp wool. With each strong lash of wind leaving her face raw, she clung onto her scarf tighter, slick with mist. She hurried to reach the faculty library in time. The only thing aiding her vision were the streetlights, bleeding their reflection int
Azura Kooistra
Nov 1


How Women’s Rights and Empowerment end at the Maternity Ward’s Doorstep
Statements of empowerment fuel Western feminism. The “Girl Boss” era left its mark on our culture through a legacy of stories like “Legally Blonde”, “Erin Brockovich”, “The Devil Wears Prada”, and “Gilmore Girls”. The protagonists of these stories were always ambitious and driven, working hard to balance their professional and public lives, all on their own. Women are superheroes who can do it all; in most cases, they can do it on their own, too. This culture and representati
Ash Avery
Nov 1


The Youth Will Decide: The Gender Gap in South Korea
Sitting with some friends at the terrace of a GS25 in Hongdae, we were celebrating the end of our midterms with Korean beer and peach soju. Before arriving at a consensus on what to do next - either playing darts at Corner PUB or dancing at MON5 - a Korean man kindly asked to sit with us. Gladly welcoming him, intrigued by the newcomer’s confidence and boldness, we resumed our varied discussions. At first, I didn’t pick up much of what he was saying from across the table, but
Henry Cornet
Oct 30


What Needs to Change: A Reflection on Dutch Democracy
It is election day in The Netherlands and I, like many, cannot help but be pessimistic. Only two years ago I found myself in this same place: the voting booth. It was my first time voting for the national elections and, even though I was far from content with the Dutch political situation, I was cautiously optimistic, hoping for improvement. Now I am here again and my cautious optimism has made place for regrettable pessimism. Instead of stability and solutions, we experience
Bas Crousen
Oct 29


Generation 2025: How do Dutch political parties talk to young voters?
D-1 Tomorrow, Dutch voters will go to the polls for what could be the most decisive legislative elections in recent decades. Indeed, the Netherlands can turn the page on the far right and place the left-wing coalition ahead. On October 29, young voters will head to voting stations, hoping to find solutions to issues that matter most to them. Many students feel a growing gap between political promises and their daily realities. Some candidates try to appeal to the youth, using


Geopolitics of Film: The Case of "Holy Spider"
Eyes on Iranian Cinema Source: IMDb, Still from the film Holy Spider, directed by Ali Abbasi (2022). ز گهواره تا گور دانش بجوی Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. Directed by Ali Abbasi and sadly inspired by real events that took place in Iran in the early 2000s. A thriller set in Mashhad , one of Iran's largest holy cities, a series of crimes targeting sex workers who disappear in the streets at night is rampant. Following these disappearances, a journalist from
Eleonore Dlugosz Donnen
Oct 23


Monsieur Lecornu's Second Shot!
French government Lecornu II has made it beyond the one-week goalpost! S é bastien Lecornu´s second attempt as head of government is off to a better start than his first mandate, which ended on October 6, given his voluntary abduction and the consequent dissolution of the government (after 14 hours of effective governance). By accepting a second mandate offered by President Macron on Friday, Oct. 10, and presenting his cabinet on Sunday, Oct. 12, Lecornu is the first French
Jakob Aufenberg
Oct 22


The Path to La Moneda: 2025 Chilean Elections
The official government building where the President of the Republic of Chile seats. Photo by Eleonore Dlugosz Donnen, September 2025. This November Chile will hold their presidential elections, a decisive vote for the political future of the country. These significant elections will require all Chileans to vote to elect the successor to current President Gabriel Boric of the Socialist Party. For these presidential elections, the three frontrunners include: Jeannette Jara, Jo
Eleonore Dlugosz Donnen
Oct 20


Dutch Bill Against ‘Glorification of Terrorism’: Necessary or Repressive?
Last June the Dutch demissionary cabinet, then still composed of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) and the Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC), presented a bill that would criminalise the ‘glorification of terrorism’ as well as any public support shown towards terrorist organisations. Whilst the bill is still in its draft stage and therefore could be amended, dozens of human rights organisations including Amnesty International and PAX hav
Béla Korpadi
Oct 18


Do You Know Where Transnistria Is ? How Moldova’s European Future Impacts You
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova's accession to the European Union is no longer just a fraternal project but a vital necessity for the Republic, as well as for the 27 member states of the Union. On July 4, 2025, Chisinau hosted an EU-Moldova summit for the first time, following the Council decision of June 26, 2025. Indeed, recognising Moldova's meritorious efforts to become a member of the European Union, The EUopened the first negotiation clus
Clémence Meallonnier
Oct 16


Witnessing Gaza from Maastricht: Reflections on “Gaza: Journalists Under Fire”
Laughter, Clinking, Grief, Silence As the large entrance in the corner of the room opened, the room filled with the clinking of cutlery...
Azura Kooistra
Sep 27


The Price of Truth: Press Safety and Enforcement
Journalistic work has become increasingly dangerous in recent decades, with bodily harm becoming a normalised condition for war reporters...


Game of Votes: Who is ruling the Netherlands?
Second Take The Netherlands heads to the polls again, earlier than expected. If you missed the headlines this summer, you should know...


Medo-Halimy Faculty: M4P Occupation, Eviction and Public Responses
Author's note (June 14): At the time of reporting, the most detailed public timeline of events is provided by Maastricht 4 Palestine...


United Nations Historical Security CouncilThe Situation in Rwanda (1994)
The Escalation of Ethnic Tensions in Rwanda The year of 1994 marked a dark chapter in Rwanda’s history. In the fastest genocide on...


Weaponization of Outer Space: Global Security Imperative
Since the development of space exploration in the mid- 20th century, the prospect of space weaponization has raised concerns among the...


Navigating the Environmental, Social, and Governance Reporting Landscape: Perspectives from the Freight Forwarding Sector
Day-to-day operations in businesses across Europe are increasingly swamped with paperwork. Filing tax reports and timesheets is no longer...
Sunday Summary - 25th of May 2025
Welcome, dear readers, to another round of the Sunday Summary. This week, I would like to guide your attention to the worsening situation...
Florian von Arnim
May 25


CC: A Solitary Mind: The Art of Loneliness in The Book of Disquiet
“I weep over my imperfect pages, but if future generations read them, they will be more touched by my weeping than by any perfection I...
Patrycja Tobola
May 25


To Birth or Not to Birth?
A Baby Bonus Americans are being asked an interesting question: “would you have a child if it meant you received $5,000 cash, no strings...
Bas Crousen
May 24
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