Towards transparency by design in the EU
Citizens must have access to information to engage with the democratic life of the union, the European ombudsman argues.
Politics
Analysis and debate on European and national politics, democracy, the rule of law, parties and elections, and Europe’s place in the world.
Transforming German society
More than profound changes to German citizenship laws will be needed to render a diverse society harmonious.
The Summit for Democracy—a wrong idea (for the world)
Branko Milanovic contends that last week’s US-convened Summit for Democracy could only exacerbate geopolitical divides.
Tax justice—a crucial tool to advance human rights
On Human Rights Day, the world looks a lot different through a lens of social and economic rights.
The revolt against reason
Many have lost all trust in politics, Robert Misik writes. The protests against vaccination and anti-virus rules however turn this into madness.
Andersson’s agenda
Magdalena Andersson has been elected the first female prime minister of Sweden. Again.
Towards gender-parity democracy
It’s time to talk about a new social contract—one that women desperately need.
Putin, pugilism and pusillanimity
Paul Mason finds the democratic world in the very disarray the authoritarian in the Kremlin has sought.
Matteo Salvini’s League and the price of unbridled populism
Valerio Alfonso Bruno and Vittorio Emanuele Parsi
The strength of populism is its simple message that ‘the people’ are traduced by an ‘elite’ linked to ‘foreign’ interlopers. That’s also its weakness.
The lure of progressive authoritarianism
The left needs to rediscover the virtue of liberty.
Stopping democratic backsliding
Sheri Berman argues that democracy today faces a more insidious threat than coups d’état—slow strangulation by elected autocrats.
The G20, the private sector and the vaccine, debt and climate crises
Katie Gallogly-Swan and Rebecca Ray
G20 leaders meeting in Rome must recognise that only public purpose, not private profit, can tackle interconnected global crises.
Gender equality in Europe—everywhere relevant, everyone implicated
Evelyn Regner and Hannah Buchinger
Gender Equality Week saw European Parliament committees host many events, highlighting real threats but also strong commitments.
Is Hungary returning to Europe?
The Hungarian opposition have united behind a conservative opponent of Viktor Orbán, ahead of parliamentary elections in the spring.
Germany’s traffic-light coalition: green light or stuck on amber?
Peter Bofinger recognises the compromises necessary for a three-party government but regrets the lack of vision to face a decade of huge challenges.
Refugees fleeing Lebanon look to Europe—but Europe looks away
In a case study of human desperation, state failure drives refugees to Cyprus, only to meet pushbacks and a numbed European conscience.