#geopolitics

A modest proposal: Europe should go full bananas

Underneath the political map of Europe’s nation-states simmers another reality: a tangle of economic and logistical corridors that transcend national borders. The best known of these is the Blue Banana. Many others aren’t as visible, and that is due to poor marketing: They lack an equally imaginative handle. Hence this modest proposal: If the European Union is serious about integration, it should get silly about names. All 12 of its major transnational economic corridors should be named after the bendy fruit. In other words, Europe should go full bananas. “Looks like a banana,” said the minist

Big Think · EN

Mapped: The World’s Most and Least Welcoming Borders

Which countries have the most open borders in 2026? Explore where tourists face the fewest and toughest visa restrictions.

Visual Capitalist · EN

Mapped: The World’s Most and Least Democratic Countries

Which countries are the most democratic? Explore global democracy rankings, the biggest gains and declines, and the U.S. slide.

Visual Capitalist · EN

Ranked: The World’s Nuclear Arsenals in 2006 vs. 2026

Nuclear arsenals in 2026 remain dominated by Russia and the U.S., but China and several Asian powers have expanded their stockpiles.

Visual Capitalist · EN