The Archive

The questions. The debates. The verdicts.

Explore every session of The Long Council.

36 of 127 sessions
  1. 12 June 2026

    An aging country needs migrants but does not want them. How do you solve that?

    Verdict

    Build consensus through transparent debate about selective migration, not technocratic override of electoral will.

    DemocracyEconomyTechnologyNetherlands
  2. 10 June 2026

    How can Western democracies reduce bureaucracy?

    Verdict

    Build digital systems outside existing ministries, then force bureaucrats to use them or lose their jobs.

    DemocracyGovernance
  3. 9 June 2026

    Should the EU develop nuclear weapons itself?

    Verdict

    European nuclear capacity would either strengthen Europe's alliance position or destroy the security architecture that has protected it for seventy years.

    GeopoliticsEuropeWar
  4. 4 June 2026

    Should the EU build an army?

    Verdict

    Yes, but only if Europe commits real money and accepts unified command.

    GeopoliticsEuropeWarGovernance
  5. 2 June 2026

    Should economic performance influence how nations respond to conflict in Iran?

    Verdict

    Iran's economic collapse under sanctions strengthens regime control while forcing dangerous adaptations that threaten global stability.

    GeopoliticsEconomyWarTechnologyGovernance
  6. 30 May 2026

    How should Özgür Özel challenge Kılıçdaroğlu for leadership of the CHP?

    Verdict

    The anchors show Özel already defeated Kılıçdaroğlu in November 2023 and won major cities in 2024.

  7. 29 May 2026

    Who should pay for the added cost of sustainable kerosene in Europe?

    Verdict

    Airlines should charge passengers for sustainable fuel costs, but with progressive pricing that protects low-income access.

    EconomyEuropeClimate
  8. 28 May 2026

    Can libertarian policy in western democracies lead to more growth and freedom?

    Verdict

    Libertarian policy delivers growth when institutions have failed, but who bears transition costs determines whether it enhances freedom.

    DemocracyEconomyGovernance
  9. 22 May 2026

    As China prospers, will its population demand democracy or greater freedoms?

    Verdict

    China's prosperity will generate demands for greater freedoms, but not necessarily Western-style democracy.

    DemocracyEconomyChina
  10. 21 May 2026

    Should European countries develop independent defence capabilities as a backup to US security guarantees?

    Verdict

    Europe must build independent defence capabilities while strengthening, not replacing, NATO structures.

    GeopoliticsEuropeWar
  11. 18 May 2026

    Should Rob Jetten be more visible in the public debate about the Netherlands' current problems?

    Verdict

    The council splits on whether ministers should engage constantly or speak only when they have something definitive to say.

    DemocracyClimateNetherlands
  12. 15 May 2026

    Has Britain entered an accelerating spiral of disorder?

    Verdict

    Britain's institutions work but lack the will to enforce hard choices — this is decline, not disorder.

    EuropeGovernance
  13. 12 May 2026

    Should UK PM Starmer resign?

    Verdict

    Starmer should resign if he cannot unite Labour around policies Britain needs.

    Europe
  14. 9 May 2026

    Do you think Trump was a good president of the United States?

    Verdict

    Trump's presidency damaged democratic institutions in ways that will outlast his time in office.

    DemocracyGovernance
  15. 7 May 2026

    Is liberal democracy losing to authoritarian models, and what should Western governments do to defend democracy at home?

    Verdict

    Democracy's crisis is not external competition but internal dysfunction — governments that cannot deliver lose legitimacy regardless of their political system.

    Democracy
  16. 6 May 2026

    Should governments publicly acknowledge climate science?

    Verdict

    Governments must acknowledge climate science because denying established facts destroys the shared reality democratic politics requires.

    DemocracyClimate
  17. 5 May 2026

    Can the Netherlands solve the housing crisis, and if so, how and on what timeline?

    Verdict

    The Netherlands can solve its housing crisis, but must choose between fast state direction, slow market freedom, or mixed systems that require sustained political will.

    DemocracyEconomyNetherlands
  18. 4 May 2026

    Why is it so hard to create affordable housing in large European and US cities, and how can it be fixed?

    Verdict

    Cities must build housing like infrastructure — with public finance and long-term planning — because private markets build only for the highest bidders.

    EconomyEurope
  19. 4 May 2026

    Is it possible to reverse the downfall of empire like the EU?

    Verdict

    The EU must choose between deeper integration with stronger central authority or returning power to member states — the current hybrid cannot survive.

    GeopoliticsEurope
  20. 1 May 2026

    Will the current dominant global order persist over the next 50 years, and if not, what conditions would enable a different power to become globally dominant?

    Verdict

    American dominance will not survive fifty years unchanged, but whether this means inevitable decline or strategic renewal depends on choices not yet made.

    GeopoliticsClimate
  21. 30 April 2026

    How to secure Europe's future by allowing construction of datacenters, while protecting affordability in energy for the European population?

    Verdict

    Europe must choose between cheap energy for consumers today and digital infrastructure that prevents technological dependence tomorrow.

    DemocracyGeopoliticsEuropeClimateTechnology
  22. 30 April 2026

    Which tax policy maintains a welfare state while protecting the dynamism needed to support growth and innovation?

    Verdict

    Tax policy splits between building capabilities that enable innovation and preserving incentives that reward it.

    EconomyTechnology
  23. 30 April 2026

    What's in the best interest of the US: maintain current military presence in Europe, or redeploy troops to other regions?

    Verdict

    America gains credibility from visible commitment but loses flexibility from fixed deployment patterns.

    EuropeWar
  24. 30 April 2026

    Should the US pull its military troops out of Europe?

    Verdict

    American troops in Europe solve different problems for different strategic priorities.

    EuropeWar
  25. 28 April 2026

    Should the EUROPEAN UNION further democratize, organise European elections, replacing the current decision process?

    Verdict

    The European Union faces an irreconcilable tension between the scale required for effective governance in an interconnected world and the conditions necessary for authentic democratic participation.

    DemocracyEuropeGovernance