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© Fortepan/Szalay Zoltán, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The article critically examines Václav Havel’s complex legacy as dissident, writer and president, challenging both his idealisation and rejection. It explores the tensions between moral responsibility and political power, his record on human rights and social justice, and the commercialisation of his legacy, questioning what meaningful democratic dialogue requires today.

• Author: Apolena Rychlíková
• Medium: Kapitál
• Original title: Václav Havel devadesátiletý: mezi národním mýtem a ochrannou známkou
• Culture and Identity

© Anna Sviatková, Kapitál

This reportage explores life in divided Cyprus through the experiences of young Turkish Cypriots navigating borders, contested identities and political exclusion. Combining personal stories with historical context, it examines the everyday consequences of occupation, propaganda and economic isolation, while highlighting youth activism, cross-community solidarity and the ongoing struggle for a united Cyprus.

• Author: Anna Sviatková
• Medium: Kapitál
• Original title: Môžem byť len tým, kým mi dovolia
• Culture and Identity

© Bulecza Noémi / Mérce

Social problems are hard to ignore on the streets of Józsefváros, a district of Budapest. More and more people struggling with severe substance-use problems are visibly unwell, while many others are forced to live on the streets: something that can make people feel unsafe. Political leaders are calling for more police presence, but addressing these problems requires a broader response. Interview with Tessza Udvarhelyi, deputy mayor of Józsefváros and former housing activist.

• Author: Kincső Juhász-Boylan, Soma Ábrahám Kiss
• Medium: Mérce
• Original title: „Láttam már morális pánikot: mindenki rendőrt kiált, de érdemi változás nem történik” – Interjú Józsefváros alpolgármesterével
• Global Social Transformations

© Revue Prostor

In April 2026, media tycoon Vincent Bolloré bought the Grasset publishing house. Immediately afterwards, Olivier Nora, a prominent figure in French literature, lost his position as head of the publishing house... the "commotion of a small caste" in the "Bollosphere" and the threat of losing independence.

• Author: Liza Nagibina
• Medium: Revue Prostor
• Original title: Francouzská literatura jako nová fronta kulturní války Vincenta Bollorého
• Pillars of Democracy

Michael Marais via unsplash | CC0 1.0

The Ukrainian media are currently facing a severe test. Traditional newsrooms are struggling to survive amidst depleted budgets and competition from Telegram, whilst artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of the game. Are algorithms a threat to individual perspectives? And what will the media landscape look like after the war? JÁDU writer Yevhenii Nazarenko discussed these developments with Natalia Steblina – a professor in the Department of Journalism and Social Communication at Vasyl Stus National University in Donetsk.

• Author: Yevhenii Nazarenko
• Medium: JÁDU
• Original title: «Алгоритми не мають ніг»
• Culture and Identity

Yaopey Yong via unsplash | CC0 1.0

We live under the illusion that it would be enough simply to work harder, and then everything would be fine again. But what if this false hope is merely a kind of trap that keeps us in a state of passivity? In today’s world, true courage does not begin with believing in a better tomorrow, but rather with accepting the fact that no saviour is coming, argues Stanislav Biler in his essay.

• Author: Stanislav Biler
• Medium: JÁDU
• Original title: Stinné stránky optimismu: Naděje pro strašidla
• Global Social Transformations

© Wikimedia Commons

Volodymyr Zelensky is facing not only a deepening political crisis, but also spontaneous revolts by groups across society.

• Author: Csaba Tibor Tóth
• Medium: Mérce
• Original title: Túl messzire mentek, és a társadalom haragjának célpontjává váltak a háborús mozgósítások Ukrajnában
• Global Social Transformations

© Denis Vėjas / NARA

“Mosquito or drone?” Denis Vėjas wonders at night in Kyiv. The silence between explosions traps him somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, while the following morning brings exhaustion and irritability. It is a state that seems to have become familiar to every Kyivan as the air-raid threat hangs over the city practically around the clock. In this audio documentary, journalists explore what it means to live under a constantly looming threat.

• Authors: Denis Vėjas, Sigita Vegytė
• Medium: NARA
• Original title: „Ateinanti para bus ypač pavojinga“. Kyjivas 24 valandų kilpoje
• Safety and Security

© Facebook Studentska lista

The article reflects on Serbia’s student-led protests against corruption, authoritarianism and political repression. Drawing on personal memories and the country’s history of failed revolutions, the author explores how young people are mobilising across society, challenging entrenched power and restoring hope for democratic change and national pride.

• Author: Martin Djovčoš
• Medium: Kapitál
• Original title: Generačné revolty v Srbsku. Ako som začal byť hrdý na svoju krajinu
• Pillars of Democracy

© Kultūros Asamblėja

This reportage explores the growing student activism in Slovakia and Lithuania, focusing on five initiatives and their responses to political, social, environmental and cultural crises. Through personal testimonies, it examines protest strategies, online activism, community building, harassment, exhaustion and solidarity, showing how young people seek meaningful ways to influence society and their future.

• Author: Gréta Čandová
• Medium: Kapitál
• Original title: Máme všetky krízy v telefóne. Reportáž o študentskom angažovaní sa
• Pillars of Democracy