How Big Tech money skews the European playing-field
Record spending by technology companies lobbying the EU represents a democratic problem.
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.
Apocalypse or co-operation?
The perfect storm of Covid-19 and climate change, and resulting economic damage, will likely trigger much more social and political instability.
Move fast and break Big Tech’s power
‘Surveillance capitalism’ can only be regulated on at least a European scale—and the mood for change is growing.
Mission-driven localities
While exposing and exacerbating longstanding inequalities, the pandemic has given rise to a wealth of promising local initiatives.
In Poland, public funding is given to those threatening liberal democracy
Right-wing, conservative and nationalist magazines were the primary beneficiaries of funds recently allocated by the country’s Ministry of Culture.
Enhancing the political participation of women from under-represented groups
The author of a report to the Council of Europe elaborates how representation gaps can be closed so politics is refreshed and reflects wider society.
Transatlantic trade co-operation: a lever for environmental and labour protection?
If the pitfalls of the last attempted transatlantic trade deal are avoided, this could be a vehicle for improving standards.
The long and winding road to global corporate tax justice
In theory, the Biden administration and the EU can collaborate to end multinational tax abuse. In practice, it’s not that simple.
Fighting Covid-19 requires fewer patents and more state
Big Pharma has not been the real innovator in the fight against the pandemic and intellectual property rights must be reshaped to restore fairness.
Towards global progressiveness
Branko Milanovic sets out an agenda for global progressives in the 21st century.
Voices from the borders of Europe
It’s a lot easier to ignore the plight of the refugees at Europe’s borders if one doesn’t hear their stories.
A stronger voice for citizens in EU decision-making
Last week the European Parliament endorsed a report by the author on enhancing civic participation in the deliberations of the union.
The future, post-Brexit
Recognition of the EU’s gravitational pull on ‘global Britain’—and so any rapprochement—will take many years.
How many inequalities can the world fight at the same time?
'Intersectionality’ can help frame the complexity of progressive politics in the context of a new transatlantic partnership.
The soft underbelly of British politics
A by-election in northern England highlights the corrosive atrophying of the UK body politic, Paul Mason writes.
How do we fix Europe’s presidency dilemma?
Who represents the EU internationally? ‘Sofagate’ reignited the issue and the Conference on the Future of Europe should aim to sort it.
For women in Turkey, the struggle continues
As of today, the Istanbul convention ceases to be effective in Turkey. But that’s not the end of the story.