The Archive

The questions. The debates. The verdicts.

Explore every session of The Long Council.

30 of 151 sessions
  1. 23 June 2026

    Should the USA reduce its role as the world's security guarantor?

    Verdict

    No: not now, not without a named substitute force and a realistic timeline to build it.

    USWar
  2. 19 June 2026

    During wartime, should a nation's political discourse give greater prominence to protecting cultural and democratic institutions alongside military defense, rather than letting military priorities dominate the conversation?

    Verdict

    Wartime silence about democracy does not protect it; a state that stops practicing its values loses them before the war ends.

    GovernanceDemocracyWar
  3. 19 June 2026

    Should Western media shift coverage of the Ukraine war from military strategy to the erosion of democratic values and human rights?

    Verdict

    Cover the rights violations now. Waiting for a better moment means the moment never comes.

    DemocracyWar
  4. 19 June 2026

    How should civil society organizations shift media coverage of Ukraine from military strategy to democratic values and human rights?

    Verdict

    Name the person, the article violated, and the town. Drop "democratic values" as the headline.

    DemocracyWar
  5. 15 June 2026

    Should the EU build an army?

    Verdict

    Europe needs its own defense capacity but splits on whether this strengthens or replaces the Atlantic alliance.

    EUGeopoliticsWar
  6. 14 June 2026

    Should the EU build a unified military force?

    Verdict

    Build European military capability within NATO structures, not as replacement.

    EUGeopoliticsWar
  7. 13 June 2026

    How can we create long term peace in Libanon

    Verdict

    Lebanon needs international partners who can fund state rebuilding while deterring Iranian interference.

    EconomyWarClimate
  8. 4 June 2026

    Why do Israelis perceive Palestinian suffering differently than most Western countries do?

    Verdict

    Israelis live under existential threat while Western observers debate from safety. Both see the same deaths through different survival calculations.

    War
  9. 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.

    EconomyWar
  10. 2 June 2026

    How to talk to Putin, or negotiate succesfully?

    Verdict

    Putin's survival depends on appearing strong, making normal diplomacy impossible until costs exceed benefits.

    War
  11. 30 May 2026

    How should the current political crisis in Turkey, involving the appointment of a trustee to the CHP and the conflict between Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu, be evaluated in light of Atatürk's warning about "negligence, betrayal, and delusion"?

    Verdict

    Turkey faces systematic constitutional breakdown, but the council splits on whether resistance or patience better preserves the republic.

    War
  12. 28 May 2026

    Does Israel have the right to build settlements in the West Bank?

    Verdict

    Israel has no legal right to build settlements, but the council splits on whether security threats override international law.

    GeopoliticsWar
  13. 27 May 2026

    Is it useful for the US to have military bases on every continent?

    Verdict

    America's 750 bases work when they serve host nations facing regional threats but become liabilities when they serve only global positioning.

    USWar
  14. 27 May 2026

    What conditions would make a Ukraine ceasefire durable and acceptable?

    Verdict

    Ukraine must choose between accepting territorial losses now for institutional protections, or fighting longer to build independent deterrent capacity.

    War
  15. 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.

    USEUWar
  16. 11 May 2026

    How should a leader balance personal ethics with political effectiveness?

    Verdict

    Leaders face genuine tragic choices where moral ideals conflict with institutional survival.

    War
  17. 5 May 2026

    How can Europe develop a long-term strategy for climate and conflict migration that combines humane reception with social stability?

    Verdict

    Europe must prepare institutions for predictable climate migration rather than manage it as permanent crisis.

    EUWarClimate
  18. 3 May 2026

    Should the EU impose sanctions on Israel for its attacks on Lebanon?

    Verdict

    EU sanctions would isolate Europe without changing Israeli behavior or protecting Lebanese civilians.

    EUEconomyGeopoliticsWar
  19. 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.

    USEUWar
  20. 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.

    USEUWar
  21. 29 April 2026

    Should the US extend its response to Iran's blockade of the Hormuz Strait?

    Verdict

    Military escalation and diplomatic restraint both carry strategic costs America cannot avoid.

    USEconomyWar
  22. 29 April 2026

    Should Taiwan aggressively strengthen their military capabilities in order to fend off China?

    Verdict

    Taiwan must build military strength but through strategic ambiguity that raises occupation costs without revealing defensive plans.

    ChinaWar
  23. 28 April 2026

    Should China take control of Taiwan by military force?

    Verdict

    Military force would be strategically catastrophic for China, destroying decades of economic development while failing to achieve sustainable control over Taiwan.

    ChinaWar
  24. 27 April 2026

    Should the EU assist Trump's military to free the Strait of Hormuz?

    Verdict

    The EU should pursue energy security through diplomatic engagement rather than military support for American operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

    USEUWar
  25. 27 April 2026

    Should the US government refuse green cards to people who have criticized Israel and support the Palestinian cause?

    Verdict

    The government should not exclude green card applicants based on their criticism of Israel or support for the Palestinian cause.

    USWarClimate