Alexander Hurst

Amherst College

Alex is a Political Science major at Amherst College, and is currently writing a thesis on the rise of the far-right in France and the Netherlands. He distracts himself from Cleveland sports hell by watching Mad Men, annoying his friends with political rants, and plotting a return to Strasbourg.

Articles by Alexander Hurst

Out With President Bling-Bling: The French Turn To The Left May 7, 2012 For the first time in 31 years, the Socialist Party has won the French presidency. As a member of the youth generation, it is encouraging that my peers across the sea figure so prominently in the way Francois Hollande desires history to judge him.

Starting in Europe, Hard Action On Climate Change March 20, 2012 By being a hardliner with its recent Emissions Trading Scheme, the European Union is cutting through much of the meandering about climate change and sending a signal that change is coming. It's time for the rest of the world to follow along with a visionary agenda.

The Indispensable Continent: Why The World Still Needs Europe January 13, 2012 Europe as a continent and a society didn’t just teeter on the precipice of destruction, it fell off—twice. For all of our sakes Europe should succeed, because if it fails, then the world will have lost an irreplaceable and shining part of her soul.

Fighting Terrorism, or Fighting Liberty? December 13, 2011 Do we really believe in the America that we grew up learning about, with “liberty and justice for all?" Because right now, as we sacrifice our rights in the name of fighting terrorism, the answer coming from Washington is no.

Oh ECB, Shall The Bells Toll For Thee? November 30, 2011 The time is swiftly approaching that the European Central Bank will have to ask itself a serious question: would it prefer to moralize all the way over the Cliffs of Dover, or would it rather still have a currency to be a central bank for?

Super Committee’s Super Failure November 22, 2011 Our media will continue to tell us that this was a bipartisan failure. That neither side could break through the impasse. This is a lie, and the clip of every single Republican presidential candidate raising their hand, refusing to accept $1 of revenues for $10 of cuts is proof.

Strasbourg, Tu Me Manques. November 15, 2011 Even a year later, I still find myself deep in the throes of nostalgia for Europe, France, and especially Strasbourg. At a time when Europe seems to unendingly teeter on the brink of disaster, my memories sometimes seem like my own little fairy tale.

A Chimerical Liberty October 26, 2011 Will people moderate their own behavior and regulate themselves for the greater good? It’s a nice thought, but I’m from Cleveland. For those of you who don’t know, many years ago heavy industry had so polluted our Cuyahoga River that it actually caught on fire.