Remaking a rules-based world order
In an increasingly insecure world, Europe should sponsor a renewal of rules-based multilateralism.
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.
North Kosovo: time to turn to civil society
The explosive tensions of recent weeks have exposed the limits of the dialogue brokered by the European Union.
The final countdown: the EU, Poland and the rule of law
Faced with financial and political pressures at home, Poland is inching closer to rule-of-law reforms.
Romania and Bulgaria stuck in EU’s second tier
The vetoing of Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen zone sent bad signals to the south-eastern EU member states.
After ‘Qatargate’: how to protect democracy in the EU
The Gulf state’s pursuit of influence shines a light on a systemic problem for the EU—and it’s not a good look.
EU-Africa relations need a new strategy
Deeper and more systemic relations between the European Union and Africa, Nicoletta Pirozzi writes, would benefit both continents.
Today’s far right and the echoes from history
Robert Misik argues today's extreme right is sponsoring a brutalisation comparable to historical fascism.
Time to confront Europe’s rogue state—Hungary
For the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, the European Union is the enemy, not Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Pre-empting the coming world war
Despite Ukraine, Paul Mason writes, Europe is still not awake to the security threat it faces.
Europe’s winter of change: break-up or breakthrough?
This winter, the European Union is facing a multidimensional crisis which could exacerbate intra-EU divisions and power asymmetries.
What Lula must do
Facing a deeply divided country and mounting global crises, Brazil's president-elect has his work cut out.
Listening in on the lives of others
‘National security’ has become the new excuse to spy on political opponents and journalists in Europe.
Putting politics back in charge of the economy
In the neoliberal era, economics marginalised the social sciences. But, Sheri Berman writes, only politics can tame capitalism’s chaotic gyrations.
Bolsonarism after Bolsonaro
While Jair Bolsonaro has been voted out of office, the forces that empowered him retain considerable influence.
Grappling with power imbalances
In a world of interlocking crises, Jayati Ghosh finds an antidote to despair in the potential of mobilisation for a new eco-social contract.
The left must embrace fiscal restructuring
A raft of new instruments are required to address the rentier capitalism of today and the threat to the ecosphere.
Government by finger-pointing
The new Swedish government, Lisa Pelling writes, is obsessed with stigmatising immigrants and refugees.