Welcome back to Café con Leche. Today is Sunday, February 8, 2026. Episode #13. If you’re listening to this while commuting, cooking, or going for a walk — perfect. This episode is designed to be absorbed slowly. And if you’re reading along, even better. Today we’re not just talking about the news. We’re talking about why governments across the world are starting to act the same way, even though they look very different politically. France. China. Spain. The UK. Kazakhstan. Different systems, different histories — but very similar instincts.

Why? Because the global system that shaped the last 30 years — cheap credit, open markets, dominant tech platforms, and political stability — is breaking down.

In political economy terms, we are entering a phase of:

● higher risk

● lower trust

● and more state intervention

As you listen, I want you to notice how often governments justify power using the same words:

● protection

● security

● stability

● responsibility These words matter.

They are doing political work. Let’s start in France.

Theme 1: "VPNs are next on my list": France’s Digital Sovereignty vs. Circumvention

Following the landmark bill to ban social media for children under 15, French Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff has set her sights on the “Achilles’ heel” of digital enforcement: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

From a Global Political Economy perspective, this represents a significant shift from platform governance to infrastructure control. France is no longer simply asking TikTok or Instagram to police their users; the state is contemplating a move into the architectural layer of the internet.

The geopolitical tension here lies in the “Sovereign Internet” model. While Western democracies have historically criticised China’s “Great Firewall,” the French move suggests a growing convergence of tactics — using state power to restrict tools that provide anonymity and location-spoofing in the name of “protection.”

Critics argue that targeting VPNs pushes policy toward an authoritarian digital regime. From a geonomic perspective, this could harm the European tech sector, since VPNs are essential for business security and data privacy.

However, the French government frames this as a battle against “Big Tech” algorithms that commodify “children’s brains.” The critical analysis suggests that if France succeeds in regulating VPN access for minors, it could set a global precedent for a “fragmented internet,” where physical location — and age — are verified at the ISP level, potentially ending the era of the borderless web.

Let’s slow this down.

France banned social media for under-15s. That part made headlines.
But what really matters came after.

French policymakers quickly realised something uncomfortable: the law doesn’t work if people can bypass it easily. And this is where VPNs enter the story.

Why VPNs suddenly matter

A VPN allows you to appear as if you’re somewhere else.

In practice, this means:

• French law says “no”
• the internet says “maybe”
• and teenagers say “watch this”

From a political science perspective, this creates a legitimacy problem. When laws are widely ignored, citizens don’t just break that law — they begin questioning authority more broadly.

So the French state faces a choice:

• accept symbolic regulation, or
• move deeper into digital enforcement

They chose the second.

This is not just about children

Now let’s zoom out.

From a Global Political Economy angle, this is about who governs the digital economy.

Social media platforms don’t just host content — they:

• shape attention
• influence behaviour
• and extract data

That data becomes profit, and most of that profit flows out of Europe.

So when Macron talks about protecting children, he is also talking about:

• regulating foreign capital
• disciplining global platforms
• and reclaiming state authority

This is a classic European strategy: regulation as power.

But here’s the danger

To regulate VPNs, the state needs tools like:

• ISP-level blocking
• traffic filtering
• approved-provider lists

These are not neutral tools.

From a comparative politics lens, once states normalise infrastructure-level control, it becomes much easier to expand it later — especially during crises.

This is how democracies slide into managed freedom:

• freedom with conditions
• freedom with filters
• freedom that depends on compliance

France is not becoming authoritarian.
But it is showing us how liberal states adapt when they feel digitally powerless.

The borderless internet is fading.
Digital borders are replacing physical ones.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – POWER WORDS

Theme 1: “VPNs are next on my list”

«Las VPN son lo siguiente en la lista»

B2 LEVEL (Upper-Intermediate)

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Red privada virtual (VPN)
EN: Many people use a VPN to access the internet securely.
ES: Muchas personas usan una VPN para acceder a internet de forma segura.

Online anonymity

Anonimato en línea
EN: VPNs provide a degree of online anonymity.
ES: Las VPN ofrecen cierto anonimato en línea.

Location spoofing

Falsificación de ubicación
EN: VPNs allow location spoofing.
ES: Las VPN permiten la falsificación de ubicación.

Law enforcement

Aplicación de la ley
EN: Online law enforcement is difficult.
ES: La aplicación de la ley en internet es complicada.

Age verification

Verificación de edad
EN: Governments are considering stricter age verification.
ES: Los gobiernos consideran una verificación de edad más estricta.

C1 LEVEL (Advanced)

Digital sovereignty

Soberanía digital
EN: France is asserting digital sovereignty over global platforms.
ES: Francia está afirmando su soberanía digital frente a plataformas globales.

Platform governance

Gobernanza de plataformas
EN: Traditional platform governance is no longer sufficient.
ES: La gobernanza de plataformas tradicional ya no es suficiente.

Circumvention

Evasión / elusión
EN: VPNs enable the circumvention of national regulations.
ES: Las VPN permiten la evasión de la regulación nacional.

Legitimacy problem

Problema de legitimidad
EN: Widespread non-compliance creates a legitimacy problem.
ES: El incumplimiento generalizado genera un problema de legitimidad.

Data extraction

Extracción de datos
EN: Platforms profit from large-scale data extraction.
ES: Las plataformas obtienen beneficios mediante la extracción de datos.

Foreign capital regulation

Regulación del capital extranjero
EN: States seek tighter foreign capital regulation in tech.
ES: Los Estados buscan una mayor regulación del capital extranjero en el sector tecnológico.

C2 LEVEL (Highly Advanced)

Infrastructure control

Control de la infraestructura
EN: States are shifting toward infrastructure control of the internet.
ES: Los Estados avanzan hacia el control de la infraestructura de internet.

Architectural layer of the internet

Capa arquitectónica de internet
EN: Governments are intervening in the architectural layer of the internet.
ES: Los gobiernos intervienen en la capa arquitectónica de internet.

Sovereign internet

Internet soberano
EN: France is moving toward a sovereign internet model.
ES: Francia avanza hacia un modelo de internet soberano.

Fragmented internet

Internet fragmentado
EN: A fragmented internet undermines the idea of a global commons.
ES: Un internet fragmentado socava la idea de un bien común global.

Managed freedom

Libertad gestionada
EN: Digital policy risks producing managed freedom.
ES: La política digital corre el riesgo de producir libertad gestionada.

Regulation as power

La regulación como forma de poder
EN: Europe uses regulation as power in global markets.
ES: Europa utiliza la regulación como forma de poder en los mercados globales.

Legitimacy erosion

Erosión de la legitimidad
EN: Over-enforcement can accelerate legitimacy erosion.
ES: La sobreaplicación puede acelerar la erosión de la legitimidad.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – FINAL TAKEAWAYS (C1–C2)

Symbolic regulation

Regulación simbólica
EN: Symbolic regulation fails without enforcement.
ES: La regulación simbólica fracasa sin aplicación real.

Digital borders

Fronteras digitales
EN: Digital borders are replacing physical borders.
ES: Las fronteras digitales están sustituyendo a las físicas.

Theme 2: COMAC: The Dragon Challenges the Duopoly

For decades, the global aerospace market has been a cozy duopoly between Boeing (USA) and Airbus (Europe). Enter COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), which is no longer a “distant rival” but a geopolitical reality.

The rise of the C919 narrow-body jet is a masterclass in Geonomics. China is leveraging its massive domestic market — projected to be the world’s largest — to provide “guaranteed demand” for COMAC, effectively shielding it from brutal market competition that usually kills startups. By 2030, COMAC aims to capture 65% of new narrow-body deliveries within China.

However, the Political Economy of COMAC reveals a deep vulnerability: it still relies on Western “heart and lungs” — specifically engines from GE and Safran, and avionics from Honeywell. In the current era of Great Power Competition, these components represent strategic leverage. If the United States imposes stricter export controls, COMAC’s production could grind to a halt.

China’s response is the CJ-1000A indigenous engine project — a multi-billion-dollar bet on technological self-reliance. COMAC isn’t just selling planes; it is China’s bid to break Western industrial hegemony and reshape the global supply chain.

Now let’s move from screens to skies.

COMAC, China’s aircraft manufacturer, wants to break the Boeing–Airbus duopoly. On the surface, this looks like industrial competition — but it is much deeper than that.

Why aviation matters so much

Commercial aviation sits at the top of the industrial food chain. It is:

• extremely complex
• capital-intensive
• safety-critical
• and politically protected

If you control aviation, you control:

• advanced manufacturing
• skilled labour
• certification regimes
• and strategic supply chains

For decades, China accepted dependence in this sector. That era is over.

State-led capitalism, Chinese style

China did not ask markets whether COMAC made sense.
It created the market.

State airlines were instructed to buy Chinese planes. Losses were absorbed politically, not financially. This is what political economists call developmental state logic.

But then geopolitics intervened.

Supply chains as pressure points

The C919 still depends on Western engines and avionics — and those dependencies can be turned off. When export licences were delayed, production collapsed.

This reveals something crucial:

In today’s world, supply chains are instruments of power.

China’s response was predictable: build everything at home, even if it is slower and less efficient at first. From a geonomic perspective, China is prioritising resilience over efficiency.

This is not a market decision.
It is a strategic decision.

If COMAC succeeds — even partially — the rules of global manufacturing will change. Not because Chinese planes are better, but because alternatives exist.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – POWER WORDS

Theme 2: COMAC: The Dragon Challenges the Duopoly

Tema 2: COMAC: El dragón desafía al duopolio

B2 LEVEL (Upper-Intermediate)

Aircraft manufacturer

Fabricante de aviones
EN: COMAC is a Chinese aircraft manufacturer.
ES: COMAC es un fabricante chino de aviones.

Global competition

Competencia global
EN: The aviation sector faces intense global competition.
ES: El sector de la aviación enfrenta una fuerte competencia global.

Domestic market

Mercado interno / mercado nacional
EN: China uses its large domestic market to support industry.
ES: China utiliza su gran mercado interno para apoyar a su industria.

Capital-intensive industry

Industria intensiva en capital
EN: Aviation is a capital-intensive industry.
ES: La aviación es una industria intensiva en capital.

Safety-critical sector

Sector crítico para la seguridad
EN: Commercial aviation is safety-critical.
ES: La aviación comercial es crítica para la seguridad.

C1 LEVEL (Advanced)

Industrial duopoly

Duopolio industrial
EN: Boeing and Airbus dominate an industrial duopoly.
ES: Boeing y Airbus dominan un duopolio industrial.

State-led capitalism

Capitalismo liderado por el Estado
EN: COMAC reflects state-led capitalism.
ES: COMAC refleja un capitalismo liderado por el Estado.

Guaranteed demand

Demanda garantizada
EN: China created guaranteed demand for COMAC aircraft.
ES: China creó una demanda garantizada para los aviones de COMAC.

Strategic dependency

Dependencia estratégica
EN: Engines remain a strategic dependency for China.
ES: Los motores siguen siendo una dependencia estratégica para China.

Supply chain vulnerability

Vulnerabilidad de la cadena de suministro
EN: COMAC faces supply chain vulnerability.
ES: COMAC enfrenta una vulnerabilidad en la cadena de suministro.

Export controls

Controles a la exportación
EN: Export controls can disrupt aircraft production.
ES: Los controles a la exportación pueden interrumpir la producción aeronáutica.

C2 LEVEL (Highly Advanced)

Geonomics

Geonomía
EN: COMAC is a textbook case of geonomics in action.
ES: COMAC es un caso de manual de geonomía en acción.

Developmental state logic

Lógica del Estado desarrollista
EN: China follows developmental state logic in aviation.
ES: China sigue una lógica de Estado desarrollista en la aviación.

Strategic leverage

Palanca estratégica
EN: Engines and avionics provide strategic leverage.
ES: Los motores y la aviónica proporcionan palanca estratégica.

Technological self-reliance

Autosuficiencia tecnológica
EN: China prioritises technological self-reliance.
ES: China prioriza la autosuficiencia tecnológica.

Industrial hegemony

Hegemonía industrial
EN: COMAC challenges Western industrial hegemony.
ES: COMAC desafía la hegemonía industrial occidental.

Strategic supply chains

Cadenas de suministro estratégicas
EN: Aviation relies on strategic supply chains.
ES: La aviación depende de cadenas de suministro estratégicas.

Resilience over efficiency

Resiliencia por encima de la eficiencia
EN: China chooses resilience over efficiency.
ES: China elige la resiliencia por encima de la eficiencia.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – FINAL TAKEAWAYS (C1–C2)

Supply chains as instruments of power

Las cadenas de suministro como instrumentos de poder
EN: Today, supply chains function as instruments of power.
ES: Hoy, las cadenas de suministro funcionan como instrumentos de poder.

Strategic industrial policy

Política industrial estratégica
EN: COMAC is driven by strategic industrial policy.
ES: COMAC está impulsada por una política industrial estratégica.

Theme 3: Spain’s Digital “Wild West” & the Sovereign Wealth Fund

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is making two bold moves: a social media ban for under-16s and the creation of a Spanish Sovereign Wealth Fund.

The social media ban, announced at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, mirrors the Australian model. Sánchez’s rhetoric is one of protectionist sovereignty, describing the internet as a “digital Wild West” where tech CEOs are more powerful than nation-states. This represents a direct challenge to the “laissez-faire” digital economy, signalling that the Spanish state is reclaiming the right to regulate the “private” digital sphere.

Simultaneously, the proposal for a Sovereign Wealth Fund marks a clear shift toward State Capitalism. Unlike Norway or Saudi Arabia, Spain does not have oil revenues to seed such a fund. Instead, this financial vehicle is designed to attract foreign capital and co-invest in strategic sectors such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence (AI).

From a geopolitical perspective, this is about Strategic Autonomy. Spain wants to ensure that its “crown jewel” industries are not swallowed by foreign private equity. By acting as a “national investor,” the government is attempting to “derisk” the Spanish economy while simultaneously asserting its influence in the global race for green technology.

Spain’s policies make more sense when seen together

When viewed side by side, Spain’s policies form a coherent strategy.

Social media bans as public health

Spain frames youth social media regulation as a mental health policy, not as censorship.

That framing is powerful. It allows the state to:

• intervene in algorithms
• challenge platform incentives
• and expand state responsibility

This reflects a broader shift in governance: governments are now expected to manage psychological risk, not just economic risk.

The sovereign wealth fund: ownership matters

Now to the second move: the Spanish Sovereign Wealth Fund.

This is not about saving money.
It is about controlling strategic assets.

Spain wants to co-own:

• green energy
• AI infrastructure
• future industrial platforms

From a Political Economy perspective, this represents a rejection of passive globalisation. Spain is effectively saying:

“We will welcome capital — but not surrender ownership.”

This is strategic capitalism, not socialism.

By becoming a shareholder, the state aims to:

• keep profits local
• stabilise employment
• and reduce vulnerability to foreign takeovers

In an unstable global environment, ownership equals security.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – POWER WORDS

Theme 3: Spain’s Digital “Wild West” & the Sovereign Wealth Fund

Tema 3: El “salvaje oeste” digital de España y el fondo soberano

B2 LEVEL (Upper-Intermediate – Core Vocabulary)

Social media ban

Prohibición de redes sociales
EN: Spain announced a social media ban for under-16s.
ES: España anunció una prohibición de redes sociales para menores de 16 años.

Mental health policy

Política de salud mental
EN: The government frames regulation as mental health policy.
ES: El gobierno presenta la regulación como una política de salud mental.

Foreign capital

Capital extranjero
EN: Spain wants to attract foreign capital.
ES: España quiere atraer capital extranjero.

Public investment

Inversión pública
EN: The state increased public investment in strategic sectors.
ES: El Estado aumentó la inversión pública en sectores estratégicos.

Strategic sector

Sector estratégico
EN: Renewable energy is a strategic sector.
ES: La energía renovable es un sector estratégico.

C1 LEVEL (Advanced – Analytical Vocabulary)

Protectionist sovereignty

Soberanía proteccionista
EN: Sánchez uses protectionist sovereignty to justify regulation.
ES: Sánchez utiliza la soberanía proteccionista para justificar la regulación.

Digital Wild West

Salvaje oeste digital
EN: The internet is described as a digital Wild West.
ES: Internet se describe como un salvaje oeste digital.

Laissez-faire digital economy

Economía digital de laissez-faire
EN: Spain is challenging the laissez-faire digital economy.
ES: España está cuestionando la economía digital de laissez-faire.

State capitalism

Capitalismo de Estado
EN: The fund reflects a shift toward state capitalism.
ES: El fondo refleja un giro hacia el capitalismo de Estado.

National investor

Inversor nacional
EN: The government acts as a national investor.
ES: El gobierno actúa como inversor nacional.

Platform incentives

Incentivos de las plataformas
EN: Regulation aims to change platform incentives.
ES: La regulación busca cambiar los incentivos de las plataformas.

C2 LEVEL (Highly Advanced – Political Economy & Geopolitics)

Strategic autonomy

Autonomía estratégica
EN: Spain is pursuing strategic autonomy in key industries.
ES: España busca autonomía estratégica en industrias clave.

Sovereign wealth fund

Fondo soberano
EN: The sovereign wealth fund will co-invest in future industries.
ES: El fondo soberano coinvertirá en industrias del futuro.

Derisking the economy

Reducción estructural del riesgo económico
EN: The fund aims at derisking the economy.
ES: El fondo busca la reducción estructural del riesgo económico.

Passive globalisation

Globalización pasiva
EN: Spain is rejecting passive globalisation.
ES: España rechaza la globalización pasiva.

Ownership of strategic assets

Propiedad de activos estratégicos
EN: States now prioritise ownership of strategic assets.
ES: Los Estados priorizan la propiedad de activos estratégicos.

Psychological risk governance

Gobernanza del riesgo psicológico
EN: Governments are managing psychological risk alongside economic risk.
ES: Los gobiernos gestionan el riesgo psicológico junto al riesgo económico.

Capital retention

Retención de capital
EN: State ownership supports capital retention.
ES: La propiedad estatal favorece la retención de capital.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – KEY TAKEAWAY PHRASES (C1–C2)

Ownership equals security

La propiedad equivale a seguridad
EN: In unstable times, ownership equals security.
ES: En tiempos inestables, la propiedad equivale a seguridad.

Strategic capitalism

Capitalismo estratégico
EN: Spain is practising strategic capitalism, not socialism.
ES: España practica capitalismo estratégico, no socialismo.

Theme 4: The “Stitch-up” in Gorton and Denton

Labour vs. Andy Burnham

In the UK, the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) recently blocked Andy Burnham, the popular Mayor of Greater Manchester, from standing for a parliamentary by-election.

This episode is a revealing case study in internal geopolitics and factionalism. On the surface, the NEC cited “party resources” and the cost of a mayoral by-election. However, political scientists interpret this as a “pre-emptive strike” by Keir Starmer’s leadership.

Burnham, often referred to as the “King of the North,” represents a powerful alternative power base. Allowing him back into Westminster would effectively create a “shadow leader” in the House of Commons, directly threatening the stability of the current leadership.

This move highlights the long-standing tension between centralisation and regionalism. By blocking Burnham, the central party leadership is prioritising “message discipline” over local democratic preference.

The political risk is clear: alienating “Red Wall” voters who view Burnham as a champion of the North against a London-centric elite. It is a classic power play — sacrificing short-term popularity for long-term internal control.

Now let’s come home to the UK

Andy Burnham was not blocked because of ideology.
He was blocked because of power geometry.

Why is Burnham threatening?

He governs a region.
He delivers tangible outcomes.
He has direct legitimacy.

From a political science perspective, this creates a parallel power base.

Labour’s leadership, by contrast, prioritises:

• message discipline
• central coordination
• electoral predictability

Burnham represents uncertainty.

The deeper political economy issue

This episode reflects the UK’s unresolved regional crisis:

• wealth is centralised
• decision-making is centralised
• political careers are gatekept

Blocking Burnham protects party control, but it weakens territorial trust.

For voters outside London, this feels familiar:
decisions made about them, not with them.

And that resentment has consequences.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – POWER WORDS

Theme 4: Labour vs. Andy Burnham

Tema 4: El Partido Laborista frente a Andy Burnham

B2 LEVEL (Upper-Intermediate)

Parliamentary by-election

Elección parcial parlamentaria
EN: Burnham was blocked from a parliamentary by-election.
ES: Burnham fue bloqueado para una elección parcial parlamentaria.

Party leadership

Dirección del partido
EN: The party leadership controls candidate selection.
ES: La dirección del partido controla la selección de candidatos.

Regional leader

Líder regional
EN: Burnham is a popular regional leader.
ES: Burnham es un líder regional popular.

Voter backlash

Reacción negativa del electorado
EN: The decision risks a voter backlash.
ES: La decisión arriesga una reacción negativa del electorado.

C1 LEVEL (Advanced)

Internal geopolitics

Geopolítica interna
EN: This is a case of internal geopolitics within Labour.
ES: Este es un caso de geopolítica interna dentro del Partido Laborista.

Factionalism

Faccionalismo
EN: Factionalism shapes internal party decisions.
ES: El faccionalismo influye en las decisiones internas del partido.

Power base

Base de poder
EN: Burnham has an independent power base.
ES: Burnham tiene una base de poder independiente.

Message discipline

Disciplina del mensaje
EN: Leadership prioritises message discipline.
ES: La dirección prioriza la disciplina del mensaje.

Centralisation

Centralización
EN: British politics remains highly centralised.
ES: La política británica sigue muy centralizada.

C2 LEVEL (Highly Advanced)

Pre-emptive strike

Golpe preventivo
EN: Blocking Burnham was a pre-emptive strike.
ES: Bloquear a Burnham fue un golpe preventivo.

Parallel power base

Base de poder paralela
EN: Burnham represents a parallel power base.
ES: Burnham representa una base de poder paralela.

Power geometry

Geometría del poder
EN: The decision was driven by power geometry, not ideology.
ES: La decisión estuvo motivada por la geometría del poder, no por la ideología.

Political gatekeeping

Control de acceso político
EN: Careers are shaped by political gatekeeping.
ES: Las carreras se moldean mediante el control de acceso político.

Territorial trust

Confianza territorial
EN: Centralisation weakens territorial trust.
ES: La centralización debilita la confianza territorial.

London-centric elite

Élite centrada en Londres
EN: Voters resent a London-centric elite.
ES: Los votantes rechazan a una élite centrada en Londres.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – KEY TAKEAWAY PHRASES (C1–C2)

Short-term popularity vs long-term control

Popularidad a corto plazo frente a control a largo plazo
EN: The party chose long-term control over short-term popularity.
ES: El partido eligió el control a largo plazo frente a la popularidad a corto plazo.

Decisions made about them, not with them

Decisiones tomadas sobre ellos, no con ellos
EN: Voters feel decisions are made about them, not with them.
ES: Los votantes sienten que las decisiones se toman sobre ellos, no con ellos.

Theme 5: Kazakhstan – The Risks of “Tokayev-ism”

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has unveiled constitutional reforms that would rewrite 84% of Kazakhstan’s basic law. While framed as “modernization,” a geopolitical lens reveals a strategy of regime consolidation.

The reforms replace a bicameral parliament with a unicameral system and introduce a “People’s Council.” Crucially, they reintroduce the post of Vice President. In a country that experienced the violent “Bloody January” unrest in 2022, these changes are designed to manage the “succession problem.”

By creating a Vice Presidency, Tokayev is attempting to signal a stable transition path and deter potential “palace coups.”

However, the Political Economy of Kazakhstan remains fragile. With inflation above 12% and interest rates at 18%, the reforms do little to address the population’s “bread-and-butter grievances.” If the new institutions fail to provide real representation and instead simply reshuffle elite players, they risk further destabilising the country.

Kazakhstan sits at the heart of the “Middle Corridor” — the key trade route between China and Europe — meaning that any instability has major geonomic implications for energy prices and global logistics.

Finally, Kazakhstan

Tokayev promises reform.
But reforms without participation are dangerous.

This is a classic tension between institutional redesign and social reality.

Abolishing the Senate, centralising authority, and managing succession are all tools of elite control.

From a political science perspective, these measures reduce uncertainty at the top.

From a political economy perspective, they do nothing to address:

• inflation
• inequality
• cost-of-living pressure

This is especially risky in a country that:

• exports strategic resources
• sits between rival powers
• and has recent experience of mass unrest

Institutions don’t stabilise countries.
Social contracts do.

Without trust, reform becomes theatre.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – POWER WORDS

Theme 5: Kazakhstan and the Risks of “Tokayev-ism”

Tema 5: Kazajistán y los riesgos del “tokayevismo”

B2 LEVEL (Upper-Intermediate)

Constitutional reform

Reforma constitucional
EN: Kazakhstan is undergoing constitutional reform.
ES: Kazajistán está atravesando una reforma constitucional.

Vice President

Vicepresidente
EN: The reforms reintroduce the role of Vice President.
ES: Las reformas reintroducen el cargo de vicepresidente.

Political instability

Inestabilidad política
EN: Political instability worries investors.
ES: La inestabilidad política preocupa a los inversores.

Cost-of-living pressure

Presión del costo de vida
EN: Citizens face rising cost-of-living pressure.
ES: La población enfrenta una creciente presión del costo de vida.

C1 LEVEL (Advanced)

Succession problem

Problema de sucesión
EN: Authoritarian systems often face a succession problem.
ES: Los sistemas autoritarios suelen enfrentar un problema de sucesión.

Elite control

Control de las élites
EN: Reforms can reinforce elite control.
ES: Las reformas pueden reforzar el control de las élites.

Institutional redesign

Rediseño institucional
EN: The reforms represent institutional redesign.
ES: Las reformas representan un rediseño institucional.

Bread-and-butter issues

Problemas básicos / de subsistencia
EN: The reforms ignore bread-and-butter issues.
ES: Las reformas ignoran los problemas básicos de la población.

C2 LEVEL (Highly Advanced)

Regime consolidation

Consolidación del régimen
EN: The reforms aim at regime consolidation.
ES: Las reformas buscan la consolidación del régimen.

Managed transition

Transición controlada
EN: Tokayev is attempting a managed transition.
ES: Tokayev intenta una transición controlada.

Geonomic implications

Implicaciones geonómicas
EN: Instability has serious geonomic implications.
ES: La inestabilidad tiene graves implicaciones geonómicas.

Strategic resources

Recursos estratégicos
EN: Kazakhstan exports strategic resources.
ES: Kazajistán exporta recursos estratégicos.

Middle Corridor

Corredor Medio
EN: Kazakhstan is central to the Middle Corridor.
ES: Kazajistán es clave en el Corredor Medio.

Social contract

Contrato social
EN: Stability depends on a functioning social contract.
ES: La estabilidad depende de un contrato social funcional.

Reform as theatre

La reforma como teatro
EN: Without trust, reform becomes political theatre.
ES: Sin confianza, la reforma se convierte en teatro político.

CAFÉ CON LECHE – KEY TAKEAWAY PHRASES (C1–C2)

Institutions don’t stabilise countries

Las instituciones no estabilizan a los países
EN: Institutions alone don’t stabilise countries.
ES: Las instituciones por sí solas no estabilizan a los países.

Reforms without participation

Reformas sin participación
EN: Reforms without participation are inherently risky.
ES: Las reformas sin participación son intrínsecamente arriesgadas.

Café con Leche Episode # 13 CONCLUSION – WHY THIS ALL CONNECTS

So what ties all these stories together? France, China, Spain, the UK, Kazakhstan — all are grappling with the same problem: How do you govern effectively in a world of fragmentation, risk, and declining trust? The answer, increasingly, is more state intervention. But intervention without legitimacy creates backlash.

Control without inclusion creates instability. And regulation without trust creates evasion. That’s the tension of our era. At Café con Leche, we don’t just translate languages — we translate power, politics, and economics. Café con Leche- learn languages, stay informed, master your English & Spanish with us whilst engaging in global poltics.

Gracias por escuchar. Hasta el próximo episodio!