It’s a virus, and this isn’t a war
The coronavirus crisis is a social challenge, Karin Pettersson writes, which the formerly secure are now being reminded is hitting the poor hardest.
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.
The nascent paradigm shift in the EU
Emergency action to enhance healthcare and unemployment insurance might signal a paradigm shift for the union from market integration to providing public goods.
In-work poverty in times of pandemic
The coronavirus crisis is exacerbating in-work poverty in the EU—and a powerful raft of labour-market and welfare measures is needed for an adequate response.
Into a new era of work
Artificial intelligence will drastically transform the economy and the workplace. Which skills will be required and is training the all-encompassing solution?
Out of the tragedy of coronavirus may come hope of a more just society
The lessons of necessity and solidarity learned during the pandemic must inform a transition to a just society within ecological limits in its aftermath.
How Law and Justice (mis)used the pandemic to dismantle social dialogue in Poland
With the independence of Poland’s judiciary already compromised, the autonomy of social partnership has become the latest target of the ruling populists.
China’s political system and the coronavirus
Branko Milanovic explores how the pandemic has highlighted China’s international responsibility and how such global ‘externalities’ are to be rendered accountable.
Solidaristic, social and sensible—reflections on progressivism for today and when tomorrow comes
The future of social democracy has been a perennial debate but the coronavirus crisis has provided a shock: progressive politics will not be the same again.
Artificial intelligence: made by men for men?
AI might seem neutral and technical but it poses a differential challenge to female jobs and can be imbued with insidious gender biases.
Building resistance: a rights-based, holistic approach against Covid-19
Human rights, including social and economic rights, may seem to some a luxury during a crisis. But that is when they are needed most.
Resilience in the corona crisis—strongest where workers enjoy collective power
It may not have been thought of as an antidote to the coronavirus but collective bargaining is protecting workers’ health and security against its ravages.
‘Corona bonds’ and Europe’s north-south divide
The Eurogroup’s decision to reject corona bonds will leave destabilising political scars.
Designing AI tools to benefit workers
Continuing our series on artificial intelligence, AI can augment human work—if workers’ representatives have a voice in implementing it.
Capitalism’s mirror stage: artificial intelligence and the quantified worker
As AI enters the workplace, we need to reflect upon the criteria by which human work is evaluated and human subjectivity depicted.
How his ‘Brexit’ project explains Johnson’s dithering on Covid-19
Paul Mason explains how Boris Johnson’s idiosyncratic initial response to the coronavirus stemmed from his particularistic empire nostalgia.
The future of Europe is being decided now
Given the ravages of the coronavirus crisis, the future of Europe cannot be one of permanent division between its northern and southern states.
Save European citizens, and save the union
In the face of the momentous internal and external threats facing European citizens, a merely intergovernmental European Union will fail to match them.