Evidence hints at the existence of what the author of this compelling article calls “smart idiots”. The term refers to the fact that politically sophisticated or well-educated people are often more biased and hesitant to accept scientific consensus than their less educated peers – given, and here’s the catch, they are conservatives.

On its cover, Newsweek is even more trenchant, asking: Why are Obama’s critics so dumb? An article about criticism that has lost touch with reality.

The uncut version of Constantin Seibt’s brilliant analysis of the political right that had created quite a buzz recently (in German).

A long interview with now 80-year-old Mikhail Gorbachev about the last days of the Soviet Union, his failures and why he won’t give up politics just yet.

Then, there was London. This good comment draws a conclusion that should ring some bells in Switzerland, too: “Right-wing policies hurt ordinary people and in doing so promote support for right-wing policies”.

Let us suppose you’d be given the chance to create a new voting system for your country, an “ideal one”. What would you opt for? Here’s a fascinating tour d’horizon of voting systems around the globe and through history. An unexpectedly great read.