On October 7, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech at the Pnyx in Athens, one of the most historically significant locations associated with ancient Greek democracy. Standing near the Acropolis, he reflected on the foundations of Western civilization, the achievements of the ancient Greeks, and the historical responsibilities of nations that have inherited their intellectual and political traditions. He emphasized the importance of national sovereignty, cultural confidence, and the willingness of free societies to defend their institutions and historical inheritance.
Continue readingnews
Zhao Ziyang, Zhu Rongji, and the Limits of the Chinese Market Reform under the Communist Party Rule
The death of former mainland Chinese premier Zhu Rongji on August 12 has renewed discussion of his economic legacy. Zhu, who served as premier from 1998 to 2003 after previously overseeing much of mainland China’s economic policy as vice premier, was one of the principal architects of the market-oriented reforms of the 1990s. He restructured state-owned enterprises, strengthened the central government’s fiscal capacity, promoted housing reform, and used mainland China’s accession to the World Trade Organization as a means of exposing domestic firms to greater competition.
Continue readingPolitical Correctness: Voluntary Respect or Politically Enforced Conformity?
Political correctness has become one of the most controversial concepts in contemporary Western societies. Ironically, much of the debate begins before any substantive discussion even starts, because people rarely agree on what the term actually means.
Continue readingPolicy Should Come Before Party
Recently, someone asked me why I’m willing to discuss politicians, public policy, and even my informal opinions about political figures in the classroom, yet I rarely post those views on Facebook or X.
Continue readingEconomic Freedom, LGBTI Rights, and the Price of Pride
One week from today, I will be in Amsterdam to take part in The Price of Pride: Economic Freedom & Digital Rights, an event organized by the European Liberal Forum in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Europe and Rainbow Platform, on the fringes of EuroPride and WorldPride Amsterdam. The event will bring together researchers, activists, policymakers, and content creators to discuss a question that is often fragmented across different academic and political debates: how do economic freedom, digital rights, personal liberty, and human dignity interact in the lives of LGBTI people?
Continue readingFrom the European Parliament to the Mediterranean: Rethinking Spain’s Role in Europe’s Energy Architecture
On June 30, I had the opportunity to present at the European Parliament as part of the project Independent Voltage: European Grid Resilience, Energy Sovereignty and EU Compatibility Standards, led by the European Liberal Forum. My contribution examined Spain’s position within the European electricity system and, more specifically, the combination of infrastructure, regulatory compatibility, investment incentives, and market reform that will be necessary if Spain is to contribute more effectively to European energy security without sacrificing economic competitiveness.
Continue readingMy American Dream: Why the United States Still Matters to Me 250 Years After Independence
Today, July 4, 2026, the United States of America celebrates 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. For me, this anniversary is more than an important date in American history. It is also deeply personal.
Continue readingHow Long Should It Take to Start a Business? Economic Freedom, Bureaucracy, and the Jobs Spain Never Sees
How long should a citizen have to wait before being allowed to create a firm? The question sounds administrative, but it is fundamentally economic and political. A new firm is not merely a registration in a government database. It can become a workplace, a source of income for a family, a competitor that forces established firms to improve, or the first opportunity for someone who has been unemployed to enter the labor market. When the state makes entry unnecessarily slow, expensive, or uncertain, the cost is therefore borne not only by the entrepreneur standing at the administrative counter. It is also borne by people whose jobs, wages, products, and opportunities may never come into existence.
Continue readingTrump’s Visit to Mainland China: Tactical Easing, Structural Rivalry, and the Real Taiwan Question
Donald Trump’s visit to Mainland China should not be misunderstood as the end of strategic confrontation between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. In the short term, bilateral relations may indeed become more manageable. The two sides reportedly discussed trade, tariffs, agriculture, aviation, technology, Taiwan, and the Iranian regime; Reuters described the trade outcomes as “preliminary,” with tentative understandings rather than a grand settlement.
Continue readingManchester United, Michael Carrick, and Why Football Needs Both Principles and Flexibility
For once, I do not want to write about politics or economics. I simply want to write as a happy Manchester United supporter. A few months ago, it was difficult to imagine how quickly the mood around the club could change. Michael Carrick returned in January with United in seventh place, and by last weekend’s 3–2 victory over Liverpool, United had secured Champions League football for next season and were sitting third in the Premier League. Whatever happens in the remaining matches, that already feels like a remarkable improvement.
Continue reading
