The EU: States Or Citizens?
The critical question after Sunday’s Catalan referendum and the violent response of the (Spanish national) police now is: how long will the Catalan people resist
Politics
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Germany: What Happens Next?
The key question now is: What happens next? After the social democrats have (wisely, I think) opted for a role in the opposition, there will
Euro Enlargement Between Convergence And (De)Financialization
The White Paper on the future of Europe presented five forward scenarios: (1) delivering a positive reform agenda, (2) focusing on the single market, (3)
Catalonia Dreaming?
Just days away from the referendum promoted by secessionist forces, Spanish police arrested over a dozen senior officials from the Generalitat and carried out over
Three Myths About Catalonia’s Independence Movement
A romantic framing of foreign crises where self-determination is involved is a common trap. The imagery of “oppressors” vs “freedom fighters” is appealing and, to
Germany’s Grave New World
The outcome of Germany’s federal election on Sunday was unexpected and disturbing, at least by German standards. The two main parties, the Social Democrats (SPD)
Europe Can’t Remain Silent Over The Catalan Crisis
Today is a sad day. While I’m writing these lines, Spanish armed police are detaining twelve senior officials and raiding Catalan government offices in search of material
The End Of The German Post-War Political Model
Has Germany, a country considered one of the most stable democracies in the world, presided over by the same Chancellor for the last 12 years,
Germany’s Hour
Who runs the European Union? On the eve of Germany’s general election, that is a very timely question. One standard reply is, “The EU’s member
Juncker: The Triumph Of Conventional Wisdom
Finally, the European Commission has made itself heard. The speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker on the State of the Union elevated the tone of the
Germany’s Anti-Populist Exceptionalism
As Germany prepares for this month’s federal election, the country seems remarkably resistant to the populist challenge that other Western societies have faced. With the
Dutch Social Democracy: Reuniting The Fragmented Left
So, René Cuperus, thank you very much for joining us today in the SWOT analysis project of different social democratic parties across the world. We’re
Macron’s Labour Gambit
At the end of August, French president Emmanuel Macron unveiled the labour-market overhaul that will make or break his presidency – and may well determine
Do Structural Reforms Of Labour Markets Impair Innovation?
Christoph Stein: You conclude from your research that supply-side labour market reforms have impaired innovation and labour productivity growth in major OECD countries. Why should
Brexit Thoughts From The Lake District
Walking across the Lake District, we were many miles from the South-East England “bubble”. But the realities of possible Brexit were as stark here as
“Resistance Alone Is Not Enough” – Women’s Rights And Illiberal Democracies
Women’s rights are under a dual attack: both the ‘neoliberal neopatriarchy’ and the reactionary anti-gender movements threaten to reverse hard-won gains in rights and equality.
Combating Hatred With History
After a white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which anti-fascist campaigner Heather Heyer was killed, and many others injured, US President Donald Trump notoriously blamed “both sides” for