Jordan Bardella’s European policy is not just critical of the EU; it’s a direct and deliberate confrontation with Germany. He explicitly described the EU as 'an association to defend the interests of Germany,' positioning his 'France First' agenda as a necessary fight against German dominance within the bloc.
While innovative, conservation programs that pay communities to protect forests have a critical vulnerability: their incentive structure can be easily outbid. If logging companies offer more profitable terms for land rights, there is little to stop communities from abandoning the conservation agreement, highlighting the model's economic fragility.
A Norwegian-backed project in the Congo Basin treats conservation like venture capital. It provides small grants (~$5k) to communities who pitch development ideas, like a pigsty or farm tools. In return for the seed funding, the community pledges to protect a portion of their forest from development, aligning financial prosperity with environmental protection.
Jordan Bardella's platform is an unusual mix for the populist right. It combines traditional anti-immigration and nationalist policies with a surprisingly modern, pro-business, and tech-focused discourse, including an emphasis on AI. This 'Trumpian' blend aims to broaden his appeal beyond the party's traditional base.
Traditional conservation methods, like establishing national parks, are deeply flawed by corruption. In the DRC's Virunga National Park, senior officers were reportedly involved in the illegal trade of minerals and wildlife. This creates an absurd situation where anti-trafficking agents are essentially training rangers to fight their own superiors' illicit businesses.
Dick Cheney justified harsh interrogation techniques not by downplaying them, but by reframing the debate as a stark moral choice. He posed a question: 'Are you going to ransom lives for your honor? Or are you going to do your job?' This rhetoric positioned torture as a necessary, albeit unpleasant, duty to prevent future attacks, rather than a legal or ethical violation.