Oh, Europe!?—a vision is still needed
Why it remains worthwhile to listen to the embattled French president, Emmanuel Macron—and why not.
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.
Russia scales back Victory Day celebrations
In the context of the Ukraine war, Russia is scaling back the May 9th Victory Day celebrations, amid fear of popular protests.
How Russians fight
Ordinary Russians are unable to protest against the Ukraine war. But evidence of covert resistance is everywhere.
Delegitimising social critique and dissent on the left
Eszter Kováts writes that censoriousness is not the way to deal with legitimate concerns about social-justice claims.
Corporate taxation: financing state and welfare
Trade unions in Sweden want a more equitable tax system, where companies compete on quality, not tax minimisation.
Europe ‘outsourcing’ asylum to Africa
Outsourcing asylum to African countries is a terrible idea—there are alternatives.
Myanmar: trade unionists in the firing line
The EU should suspend trade preferences for Myanmar and end support for projects under the military regime.
Belarus: support jailed trade unionists
On the anniversary of the imprisonment of Belarus’ union leadership, Europe must renew efforts for the release of political prisoners.
The populist-radical-right impact on the welfare state
Radical-right parties are transforming the welfare state, recreating a moral separation between the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’.
The challenge of instant democracy
We need to find ways, Jan Zielonka writes, to ensure that ‘fast’ democracy is not ‘junk’ democracy.
Feminist governance—here to stay, or gone tomorrow?
Since 1975 feminists have helped establish new international frameworks. Success inadvertently sowed the seeds of populist campaigns.
After Michel exits, enter Marin?
Sanna Marin is the right person to preside over the European Council. But would she want to?
Ukraine’s relationship with the Belarusian opposition
As an ally to both, the European Union can facilitate their mutual understanding and engagement.
For a just and democratic climate transition
Julia Cagé, Lucas Chancel, Anne-Laure Delatte, Isabelle Ferreras, Stéphanie Hennette, Paul Magnette, Dominique Méda, Kalypso Nicolaïdis, Thomas Piketty, Guillaume Sacriste and Antoine Vauchez
The scale of the crises Europe faces requires not only a raising of the policy stakes but a restructuring of its governance.
Wanted: Vladimir Putin
Whether Russia’s president ever ends up in handcuffs, the International Criminal Court’s indictment is a big step in the right direction.
The good man from Traiskirchen
The Austrian social democrats are heading into a leadership contest, Robert Misik writes. For the SPÖ it could get bumpy.
Winning in Ukraine, losing the global south?
The west’s focus on the war in Ukraine risks a geopolitically counterproductive neglect of the urgent problems of the global south.