Ivo Vegter
Ivo Vegter is a freelance journalist, columnist and speaker who loves debunking myths and misconceptions, and addresses topics from the perspective of individual liberty and free markets.
Articles By This Author
“Hard realism” versus liberal principles
In an article for The Common Sense, Frans Cronjé argues that America’s foreign policy is a strategic necessity to “restore America”. Cronjé’s political analysis is
A liberal case for foreign intervention
Martin van Staden made a persuasive case for premising the legitimacy of foreign intervention on “freedom credentials”. In his excellent article Against the moral equivalence
The case for abandoning BRICS
South Africa, as a member of BRICS, is a tiny fish in a small pond. And the pondwater is toxic. It should get out. BRICS+,
A new age of empires
The recent decapitation of Venezuela’s regime and America’s withdrawal from 66 supra-national organisations signals a new era in global politics. Donald Trump does not want
What causes good things to happen?
Bad news sells. If it bleeds, it leads. Yet it pays to be reminded of progress and prosperity and their causes. There’s a good reason
Denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” is neither correct nor constructive
Peace in the Middle East will not come through slogans or indictments. It will come through the hard, patient work of diplomacy, institution-building, and trust.
Climate mitigation runs out of steam
The annual climate change jamboree, COP30, produced little of any significance, but signalled a shift from mitigation to adaptation. Socialists and authoritarians like themselves a
Groenewald stands firm on reviving corporal punishment
A lone voice, the minister of correctional services, Pieter Groenewald, again expressed support for reintroducting corporal punishment. This was going to be an easy column
Unicorns may exist, according to RFK Jr.
The statement “unicorns do not exist” is not “evidence-based”. Neither is the statement “broccoli does not cause cancer”. Let’s get sciency, RFK-style! When Robert F.
China has trumped America on trade
In a trade war, there are only losers, but the biggest loser is turning out to be the US. Politicians should never try to fight