Freedom—we won’t let you down
Pandemic protests have mobilised the language of ‘freedom’. Progressives need to redefine that as emancipation.
Politics
Social Europe is an award-winning digital media publisher driven by the core values of freedom, sustainability, and equality. These principles guide our exploration of society’s most pressing challenges. This archive page curates Social Europe articles focused on political issues, offering a rich resource for innovative thinking and informed debate.
Portugal: socialist victory and the morning after
Why did the socialists win so big in Portugal? Maybe because they weren’t expected to.
Ukraine and the future of Europe
Vladimir Putin’s indulgence of his imperial impulses has far-reaching implications for Europe’s place in the world.
Portuguese elections too close to call
Disharmony on the left could pave the way for a right-wing coalition government.
The future of Europe: who holds the baton?
Political leaders must not turn the Conference on the Future of Europe into another EU black box.
The biggest killer of pandemic times: inequality
‘Inequality’ is never the official cause of a death. But, writes Jayati Ghosh, that doesn’t mean it’s not.
The drama of the French presidential election
Social democracy is flatlining in a France which otherwise betrays common European features.
Macron wants EU ‘sovereignty’—but for whom?
The French president has made ‘sovereignty’ a buzzword. Yet corporations seem to enjoy more than citizens.
A green developmentalism for Europe?
The French EU presidency provides an opportunity to advance a ‘developmentalist’ strategy for the green transition.
While social apartheid endures, so will the pandemic
Denying vaccination to Africa was always bound to rebound on the global north.
Unnecessary tradeoffs
Progressive ideas can prevail in a democracy, Sheri Berman writes—but only if they are pitched in universal terms.
Russia: it’s raining men without umbrellas
What is Russia up to, at the Ukraine border and beyond? It takes a gender lens to see.
The virus antidote: political leadership, progressive government, public services
With still fewer than 50 fatalities, there is much to learn from how New Zealand’s Labour government has handled the pandemic.
A tale of loss and hope: what can we learn from Poland?
Poland’s ruling nationalists aren’t having it all their own way. The opposition needs more external recognition.
Towards transparency by design in the EU
Citizens must have access to information to engage with the democratic life of the union, the European ombudsman argues.
Transforming German society
More than profound changes to German citizenship laws will be needed to render a diverse society harmonious.
The Summit for Democracy—a wrong idea (for the world)
Branko Milanovic contends that last week’s US-convened Summit for Democracy could only exacerbate geopolitical divides.