Why did it take four months for Europe's parent nations -- Germany and France -- to prop up the continent's prodigal son, Greece? And what can the European Union do when it comes to coping with such behavior with its other children?

There is little doubt Greece needs to face up to the part it played in its current financial mess -- in which its ballooning deficit threatened the stability of the nation and the euro. But it now appears that in the case of Germany, at least, the slow response was more than meets the eye. Chancellor Angela Merkel was not simply pandering to her fragile coalition and frustrated electorate. Instead, the Greek crisis turned into a three-part opportunity for Germany: The country has dramatically boosted its exports thanks to a weak euro, a German is now the front-runner to head the European Central Bank, and it can now more easily justify cracking the whip on the rest of the Eurozone.

"All you need is a piece of paper, a pencil and the desire to make architecture."

Austrian-turned-New-York architect Raimund Abraham recently passed away after his car collided with a Los Angeles city bus. He had just delivered a lecture at SCI-Arc entitled "The Profanation of Solitude." A disciple of John Hejduk at Cooper Union, Abraham was perhaps the most uncompromising figure in contemporary architecture, willing to argue for the critical sanctity of the discipline against all forms of corruption. His penchant for fedoras, cigars and sublimely apocalyptic drawings brought him insider acclaim, yet often put him at the margins of a field that has by now largely sought to abandon its critical mandate in favor of getting things built by whatever means necessary.

In the aftermath of the brutal attack on Silvio Berlusconi, the opposition in Italy is seemingly forced to choose between the rock and the hard place.

Should they rush to Berlusconi's hospital bed, as Pier Luigi Bersani, the head of the Partito Democratico, has done? Or should they follow the lead of Antonio Di Pietro, leader of the smaller opposition group Italia dei Valori, and point out that Berlusconi himself first spread the climate of hatred to which he has now fallen victim?

Talking Heads 2: The New Europe? from The Utopian on Vimeo.

Dr. Timothy Stanley, historian at the Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London, discusses the recent European elections with Yascha Mounk, co-founder of The Utopian. Was the demise of left-wing parties and the rise of far-right parties a harbinger of the New Europe?

Yascha Mounk and Alexander Lee, co-founders of The Utopian discuss the controversy about Pope Benedict XVI's recent reinstatement of the Society of Saint Pius X and holocaust-denying Bishop Richard Williamson to the Roman-Catholic church

The Utopian is proud to present its new issue, Making History. With contributions ranging from eminent philosophers Jurgen Habermas and Paolo Flores d'Arcais to emerging writers and artists like Sam Munson and Kate Aspinall, we examine the past, present and future of history and how it is made. In thought-provoking pieces that challenge our relationship with the past Timothy Stanley and Alexander Lee boldly makes the case that history is, indeed, bunk, while Israeli Oded Na'aman asks if someone won't please make history by saving his country from itself.

We are also excited to introduce two new sections of The Utopian: a challenging blog continually updated by an array of international contributors, and 'Talking Heads', a regular video discussion on the most controversial issues of the day.

Watch The Utopian co-founders Alexander Lee and Yascha Mounk discussing the Catholic Church, Holocaust denial and liberal anxiety in the brand new 'Talking Heads' section; or read Justin Fowler on 'Making Futures' and Panagiotis Patlakas on 'Jazz at Massey Hall'. Be sure to check back regularly for more thought-provoking updates - many more entries will go online in the next days and weeks!

Much attention has obviously been given to the active construction of history, the material substance of which being almost infinitely malleable by the physical or ideological victors of each successive era. I would suggest, however, that it is equally important to address as a course of inquiry the construction of future histories...

As far as concerts go, this one didn't seem to be off to a good start. The genre was already somewhat passe, hard bop being the thing in the East Coast, and cool jazz in the West. Even the concert-going public seemed more interested in the World Heavyweight Championship match being conducted that night, and yet...

The Utopian is devoted to seeking out the most original and challenging ideas in contemporary politics, art and culture. Taking from utopian thought a spirit of free inquiry and open-mindedness, the magazine includes diverse perspectives in the recognition that nothing is unthinkable.

Drawing on a distinguished network of contributors from around the world, The Utopian offers high-quality reportage and a searching analysis of important contemporary issues. Transgressing the limits of traditional journalism, The Utopian is also a prime forum for full-length photographic articles and experimental music.

Please take your time to discover the rich contents of The Utopian's inaugural issue. The Utopian's second issue - 'Beyond Liberalism' - will go online on July 14th. In the meanwhile, be sure to check back regularly to read the frequently updated entries in The Utopian's 'in brief' section.

Isaiah Berlin claimed that exciting utopian ideas can be dangerous to liberal democracy. Michael Walzer argues that dullness has its perils, too...

Pluralism is only possible when we can agree how to disagree. But that deeper agreement shows that Berlin was a monist despite himself. A response to Isaiah Berlin and Michael Walzer.

Italian democracy is in a state of emergency. We must reclaim our civic dignity.

Silvio Berlusconi isn't an ideal leader. In fact, he's a crook. But sometimes, the crook is still the best option...

Forget sobriety: it's time for architecture to get exuberant again!

Constantly bombarded by advertising, we have become a lost generation. It is time to let go and start dreaming.

A short story.

The Utopian in dialogue with Gary Sick, former member of the US National Security Council; Richard Bulliet, Professor of History at Columbia University; and Dr. Eden Naby, Iranian dissident and commentator.

"Sharia is little threat to UK law."

An inside look at Sharia courts in England.

'The recent rise of right-wing populism in Italy has been frightening. Counterintuitively, only the Italian left can stop it.'

Knowing what (not) to be afraid of.

On the limits of political alchemy from Thucydides to Bush.

Fear and Loathing; Cabs, Book Readings and Bears.

A short story.

Oliver Griffin demonstrates how the world we live in is reappropriated through activity, challenging our often disquieting perceptions of urban space.

'It's not at all a foregone conclusion which party - I or the Church - can invoke the right moral intuitions.' (Habermas)

An exchange between Jurgen Habermas & Paolo Flores d'Arcais

'I know the people who are killing innocents, they are the men and women of my beloved country. I urge you to stop us.'

History is bunk.

The violent revolt of an indolent historian.

'I have a confession to make. I am an historian. I am useless. I am glad. This is the way it is meant to be.'

'You're no doubt wondering, Commissioner, why I would take such an interest in the honor and security of our country.' A short story.

A sky signed with honour: remembering Antoine de Saint-Exupery in life, literature and flight.

Our place in time, the base of recorded culture - and the unwinding of the complex. An art project.

An interview with Giuliano Amato, Italy's two-time Prime Minister.

They're the kind of people, they make me embarrassed to be a Jew.

A short story.

Provocative portraits of innocents: Paul Sutton examine's Bernard Faucon's dreams of fantastical youth.

Blandscapes in the Dutch built environment - Justin Fowler remarks on the dystopia of architectural competence.

With chaos and catastrophe in mind, Bobby Dowler's recent works explore the space between Thomas More's 'Noplacia' and 'Goplacia'

A conversation with Dany Cohn-Bendit, Stanley Hoffmann and Irena Gross

OR:

'A French Man's Home is his Castle'

A rhapsody in 'b' for bourgeois...

(Translated from the German by Yascha Mounk. For the original please see here)

Ringworm, music lessons, VD, confirmation class .... spirit of the 60s?

Why Italy's left is to blame for the rise of the far right...

From the vantage point of the early 21st century the American left seems like a hopeless, hapless, very probably lost cause. Is it time for a new 'New Politics'?

'68 and the End of the High Modernist Ethic in Architecture

Avant-garde architecture was one of the unlikely victims of student sloganeers in May '68. 40 years later, young architects approach the lingering images of utopia with an almost fearful fascination as they seek to wed their own masturbatory exercises to something resembling social consciousness.

'Destroy my ugly system face so that I don't see my own darkness anymore when facing myself in the morning, in the afternoon, in the night.'

System Being Manifesto, Island Utopia