Social Europe articles on politics

The strength of ‘illiberal democracy’ three decades after the fall of the Berlin wall can only be understood by reference to the prior cold-war trajectories of east and west.

The differing paths of the states which emerged after the fall of the wall show how liberty and the rule of law go hand in hand.

Democracy is threatened by politicisation of constitutional courts. Unorthodox tactics are required to restore their role.

The decision of the European Council, at French behest, not to begin accession negotiations for North Macedonia and Albania will have region-wide reverberations.

The privileging of economic freedoms over social rights by the European Court of Justice could be reversed by a thorough harmonisation of European social law.

Local elections in Hungary have placed a question-mark over the durability of the ‘illiberal democracy’ of Viktor Orbán.

Why does environmental promise always fall short in practice? A new answer to the social question can bridge the gap.

The bizarre recent phone conversation between the president of the US and his counterpart in Ukraine returned to the public mind a neglected country with a frozen conflict.

Revivified collective bargaining would benefit workers but also society as a whole—and political support is needed.

How can transnational corporations be held to account in a world of nation states? A binding UN treaty would be an important step.

The new European Commission’s ‘One In, One Out’ approach to ‘burdensome’ legislation would stymie progress towards safer, healthier workplaces.

The parliamentary elections in Switzerland deprived the right of its majority. Can the surging greens and the social democrats take advantage?