About

Over the past few years, the tapestry of the world has been rewoven into something wholly unrecognizable. We've borne witness to the trials of a global pandemic, the morphing of social habits, and the harrowing onset of a sweeping war on the European continent—a conflict initiated by Russia against a peaceful, sovereign nation. The undeniable reality is that the equilibrium of the world order has been disrupted and the way things were can never be reestablished. Like shards of glass refracting light in every direction, people, nations, companies, and families have scattered and reformed under the banner of a new normal.

In the midst of this transformation, we've stumbled upon a startling revelation: our understanding of the world is a mere sliver of its grand complexity. We have dared to venture to Mars, to unravel the enigma of nuclear fusion, yet we remain clueless about the lives of our neighbors, about the motives that make some benevolent and others malicious. When we zoom out and gaze at the mosaic of our planet, it becomes evident that there are vast regions that seem superficially familiar, yet their essence remains an enigma to us.

For Europe, a terra incognita exists just east of Berlin. Once termed Eastern Europe, we now refer to it as New Europe—a name that rings with a promise of discovery and understanding. This region diverges dramatically from the picture that springs to mind when we utter names such as Poland, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or other countries.

Together, we endeavor to pierce the veil of these nations, to understand the people that call them home, to appreciate the rich tapestry of their cultures, the tantalizing opportunities for leisure and relaxation, and the crises that simmer beneath the surface. This exploration enables us to envision what form Europe will take in the 21st century, to determine the path we collectively tread, and to strategize on how we can counter the gargantuan specter of totalitarianism that looms ominously over Western democracies.

Therefore, The Gaze takes aim at New Europe, a world that nestles just beyond our doorstep but remains shrouded in mystery. To discover it, to savor its diverse flavors, to scrutinize its every facet – this is our mission. Igniting the spark of curiosity in our readers, our beacon in the fog, is our goal.

We invite you to embark on this journey of discovery with us. Should you have any inquiries, please feel free to contact us at info@thegaze.media.

The Gaze works under the aegis of a public media holding, powered by the financial support of the Ukrainian state budget. This initiative has independent editorial board and stands firm in its commitment to the principles of independent and responsible journalism.