The debate on UK withdrawal from the EU has included talk about sovereignty, as if sovereignty were a given to which divergent political opinions can be attached. But the word ‘sovereignty’ is a false … Read More
Columns & Interviews
Europe Must Target Demand To Fight Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is big business. The ILO estimates that global sex trafficking generates $99 billion in profits every year for traffickers. It’s an exploitation industry that has grown rapidly in the … Read More
Lessons From The Greek Tragedy Unlearnt
I realise I have not written much about Greece since the open letter to Angela Merkel that Thomas Piketty, Jeffrey Sachs, Dani Rodrik, Heiner Flassbeck and I wrote in July 2015 (see here and here). … Read More
Why Macron’s ‘Third Way’ Is EU’s Best Option
The largest question in democratic politics in Europe is: who’s in charge?The issue was illuminated in the latest standoff in the European Parliament, where the body voted on Wednesday to sanction … Read More
Kurz’s sneaky trip to Italy
Sebastian Kurz was in Italy recently (Friday 14/09) to attend a large political event. Three out of the four local daily newspapers in the area did not bother announcing the arrival of the Austrian … Read More
Europe’s Populist Fifth Column
European security currently rests essentially on the NATO alliance and the principle of mutual defence, and on cooperation between national intelligence services working to prevent violence against … Read More
Blogs
Ending Austerity: Public Spending Key To Stability And Fairness
The term “fiscal” comes from the Latin for “purse”. When it comes to fiscal policy – how the government manages the country’s budget – a lot of people wrongly compare the country’s purse, and how it’s … Read More
EU Citizens’ Involvement During The Age Of Austerity
A democratic society is characterized by the people’s electoral will. The quality of democracy is determined by the sovereign action of its citizens and the level of human rights protection. It is … Read More
Germany Is Quietly Rebalancing Its Economy – But This Will Not Fix The Eurozone’s Flaws
Ever since the financial and sovereign debt crisis, the political and economic implications of Germany’s unbalanced economy have lured the attention of academics, policy institutions, the public and … Read More
Do Capitalists Still Need Consumers?
While it’s hard to come up with numbers, the delocalisation and outsourcing of production and other economic activities to low-cost countries have resulted in the loss of jobs and reduced purchasing … Read More
Why Has The Populist Radical Right Outperformed The Populist Radical Left In Europe?
Twenty-first century European politics has been characterised by patterns of electoral volatility, alongside the recent economic and ongoing refugee crisis. This has allowed ‘populist’ parties on both … Read More
Why Such Disparity Between Unemployment Rates In Europe?
Eurostat has just published its latest unemployment figures. For the EU and Eurozone. Overall, they show continuing progress though youth unemployment remains seriously high.But the statistics do … Read More
Talks & Conversations
Brexit: Trading In Choppy Waters
There’s no better trade deal for the UK than being in the EU but the Chequers ‘sticky tape’ may just help the UK Brexit if it still wants to.Dr Lorand Bartels, Reader in International Law at the … Read More
How Brexit Could Create A Crisis At The Irish Border
When the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in June 2016, it was largely based on a desire to take back control of its borders. While the UK was a member of the EU, trade and people … Read More
Saving May’s Bacon
Will Michel Barnier save Theresa May’s bacon and will historians look back on a wasted three months soon after the UK’s June 2016 Referendum?Catherine Barnard, Professor of EU Law at the … Read More
The Body Market, What Money Can’t Buy
Should you be able to sell your organs, or sell your body for sex? “The Body Market” explores the markets for selling your body parts and potentially your dignity. The director of the London School of … Read More
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