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Social Europe articles on politics

Social Europe is an award-winning digital media publisher that publishes content examining issues in politics, economy and employment & labour. This archive brings together Social Europe articles on political issues.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland—the unhappy ending Europe’s story must avoid

by Robin Wilson on 15th April 2021

Europe has always had its anti-enlightenment side. Northern Ireland graphically presents its extreme manifestation.

global governance,Strategic Compass

The European Union and global governance

by Guido Montani on 13th April 2021

The EU’s strategic ambition must not be just to carve out a niche for itself among the major powers but to reshape global governance.

Myanmar,sanctions

Nineteen Burmese protesters sentenced to death—Europe get off your sofa!

by Frank Hoffer on 13th April 2021

The military in Myanmar is fully aware of Europe’s response to the killing spree against democracy protesters. It is not impressed.

Conference on the Future of Europe

Europe’s democratic renewal needs a feminist slant

by Iratxe García Pérez on 12th April 2021

The Conference on the Future of Europe shouldn’t degenerate into political theatre. Politicians need to listen and give a voice to citizens.

right-wing populist, Sweden Democrats

Dealing with the right-wing populist challenge

by Sheri Berman on 12th April 2021

Sheri Berman explores what the Swedish case reveals about strategies to adopt towards right-wing populist parties.

European wealth tax

A European wealth tax

by Jakob Kapeller, Stuart Leitch and Rafael Wildauer on 9th April 2021

A European wealth tax could be a ‘win-win’ strategy for reducing extreme wealth inequality and funding the recovery from the pandemic.

radical right,PRRP

The radical right is not a pro-welfare party

by Marius Busemeyer and Philip Rathgeb on 7th April 2021

As with immigration, radical-right and social-democratic parties are unlikely to find common ground on social policy.

Iceland,corruption,oligarchs

Democracy in Iceland

by Thorvaldur Gylfason on 31st March 2021

Iceland enjoys the general perception of Nordic countries as well-governed democracies. Its oligarchs would prefer that that remain so.

Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, Withdrawal Agreement

Why the protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland matters

by Katy Hayward on 29th March 2021

The protocol is a small part of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement but it has enormous implications for both parties. It is imperative they tread with care.

Labour

A newer Labour?

by Patrick Diamond on 25th March 2021

The British Labour Party has had a tortuous time over the last decade. But there are hints of openness towards new solutions to its problems.

Belarus,Kwaśniewski

Interview with Alexander Kwaśniewski

by Ania Skrzypek on 23rd March 2021

Ania Skrzypek spoke to the former Polish president about the crisis in Belarus and the response of the European Union.

Racism,xenophobia,Roma

Race against time

by Khaled Diab on 22nd March 2021

With the resurgence of racism and discrimination across Europe, combating it requires urgent action, not just noble words.

Bundestag election,SPD,CDU,Merkel

Germany’s super-election year is a wild card

by Knut Dethlefsen on 18th March 2021

With the federal government now perceived as mishandling the pandemic and corruption tainting the CDU, the autumn Bundestag election is one to watch.

Orbán,Hungary

Hungary’s Covid-19 wars

by Stephen Pogány on 17th March 2021

For Viktor Orbán, the pandemic has offered an opportunity to undermine the European Union and curry favour with Hungary’s authoritarian allies.

Commission on the Status of Women,CSW

It’s time to make women truly count

by Mariana Vieira da Silva, Franziska Giffey, Taina Bofferding and Tytti Tuppurainen on 15th March 2021

As the UN Commission on the Status of Women convenes, social-democratic ministers for gender equality call on Europe to unite for women’s rights.

integrated review

Lost an empire, not found a role

by Paul Mason on 15th March 2021

Paul Mason finds in the UK’s foreign and defence review a wilful refusal of its natural European engagement.

inequalities,dissatisfaction with democracy

Inequalities and democratic corrosion

by Piergiuseppe Fortunato on 4th March 2021

The right question to ask is not if inequality threatens democracy but which inequalities matter.

governance

The crisis after the crisis

by Christof Schiller, Thorsten Hellmann and Karola Klatt on 2nd March 2021

The best-governed industrialised countries were better prepared for the pandemic shock. But even the best are not ready for what is to come.

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Social Europe Publishing book

With a pandemic raging, for those countries most affected by Brexit the end of the transition could not come at a worse time. Yet, might the UK's withdrawal be a blessing in disguise? With its biggest veto player gone, might the European Pillar of Social Rights take centre stage? This book brings together leading experts in European politics and policy to examine social citizenship rights across the European continent in the wake of Brexit. Will member states see an enhanced social Europe or a race to the bottom?

'This book correctly emphasises the need to place the future of social rights in Europe front and centre in the post-Brexit debate, to move on from the economistic bias that has obscured our vision of a progressive social Europe.' Michael D Higgins, president of Ireland


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Hans Böckler Stiftung Advertisement

Renewing labour relations in the German meat industry: an end to 'organised irresponsibility'?

Over the course of 2020, repeated outbreaks of Covid-19 in a number of large German meat-processing plants led to renewed public concern about the longstanding labour abuses in this industry. New legislation providing for enhanced inspection on health and safety, together with a ban on contract work and limitations on the use of temporary agency employees, holds out the prospect of a profound change in employment practices and labour relations in the meat industry. Changes in the law are not sufficient, on their own, to ensure decent working conditions, however. There is also a need to re-establish the previously high level of collective-bargaining coverage in the industry, underpinned by an industry-wide collective agreement extended by law to cover the entire sector.


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ETUI advertisement

Social protection during the pandemic: freelancers in the creative industries

This working paper identifies some key areas of policy intervention for advancing socially sustainable and fair solutions for freelancers working in the creative industries, who are among those who have suffered the most from the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, the authors focus on those who work entirely on their own account, without employees (ie the ‘solo self-employed’), and who undertake project- or task-based work on a fixed-term basis.


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Eurofound advertisement

Industrial relations: developments 2015-2019

Eurofound has monitored and analysed developments in industrial relations systems at EU level and in EU member states for over 40 years. This new flagship report provides an overview of developments in industrial relations and social dialogue in the years immediately prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Findings are placed in the context of the key developments in EU policy affecting employment, working conditions and social policy, and linked to the work done by social partners—as well as public authorities—at European and national levels.


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Foundation for European Progressive Studies Advertisement

#Care4Care!

It took us a global pandemic to realise that we depend on care. Despite all the clapping from the balconies, care workers continue to work in precarious and vulnerable conditions. Women, who represent 70% of the care workforce, continue to suffer from a severe lack of recognition for both their paid and unpaid care work. It’s time for a care revolution! It’s time to #Care4Care! The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), together with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), has been intensively working since 2019 to monitor the EU gender equality policy agenda through a progressive lens focusing particularly on its care dimensions.


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