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.
Politics
Analysis and debate on European and national politics, democracy, the rule of law, parties and elections, and Europe’s place in the world.
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?
Ania Skrzypek and Laeticia Thissen
‘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?
Paul Magnette and Kalypso Nicolaïdis
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
Elifcan Çelebi and Ebru Ece Özbey
As of today, the Istanbul convention ceases to be effective in Turkey. But that’s not the end of the story.
Releasing Europe’s democratic genie
The Conference on the Future of Europe might sow the seeds of a genuine European political space.
Beyond waving rainbow flags
Using the rainbow flag to symbolise an east-west divide in Europe risks playing into the hands of authoritarian leaders.
The Catalan pardons: what do they mean?
Last week the Spanish premier, Pedro Sánchez, pardoned the nine Catalan political prisoners—to very mixed reactions.
The G7’s role in the world
Jayati Ghosh unpicks the G7 summit in England and finds an anachronistic coalition failing to meet global responsibilities.
As Polish women flock towards volunteer defence, the left remains inept
Weronika Grzebalska begins a new Social Europe column by exploring how the liberal left in Poland has abdicated to the populists the resonant theme of women and defence.
EU migration and asylum pact abandons compassion and human rights
Faced with escalating deaths in the Mediterranean, official Europe needs to relocate its moral conscience.
What is NATO for?
Since the end of the cold war, NATO has struggled to find a role. It can find it in a focus on human security.
Defending democratic values
The cement for a new transatlantic relationship should be a common commitment to democracy in a world of rising authoritarian challenges.
Democracy, activism and the rule of law—key weapons against fascism
Fascism is not just sepia images of yesteryear but a contemporary threat. A liberal-left alliance is needed to counter it.
Strategies for a world without right-wing populism and nationalism
The radical right has been setting the agenda in terms of identity and security. Social democrats need to recapture it and redefine Europe.