The gender pay gap: where to start?
The gender pay gap in the EU remains stubbornly wide. Unpacking it highlights its wide social ramifications.
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.
Older and wiser?—when governments get it wrong on pensions reform
Greater dependency ratios may imply pensions reform—but not that it be unfair.
The Danish election: a red wave with black undercurrents
The large swing to the left in the Danish election could lead to a long period of opposition for the right. Unless, that is, the social democrats revert to their ‘third way’ approach when last in government.
This time is different
Marx once wrote of the temptation, confronted with a new historical situation, to summon up the ‘borrowed language’ of the past. He’s still right.
Social imbalances in the EU
Despite the economic recovery of recent years, persistent social imbalances—such as those affecting women and young people—must be taken into account in the debate on Europe’s future.
Big Data and its enclosure of the commons
Digital dystopias are overdone but inequality is rising. The answer lies in treating data as a commons and Big Data as a collective-action problem.
Finland stepping up to climate leadership—will the government deliver?
The new social-democrat led government in Finland has committed the country to carbon neutrality by 2035. Can, will it be done?
Europe’s coal problem
The eurozone muddled through its crisis at Germany’s behest. The climate emergency is much too serious for that.
Curbs on migration or freedom of movement—the Swiss experience
Arguments about immigration have polarised between restriction and liberalisation. But key are accompanying measures to ensure freedom of movement is associated with wage and social protection.
Why should governments give cash-handouts before providing free, quality public services to all?
Universal Basic Income without quality public services is a neoliberal paradise.
Populists, greens and the new map of European politics
In light of the gains by green parties and right-wing populists in the Euro-elections, Sheri Berman explores how the traditionally dominant parties respond to such challenges.
Welcome to GAFA land—where the winner takes it all
The Big Tech platforms have established monopolies which disempower their competitors as well as their workers. EU competition law can be used by unions seeking to bring them to heel.
How European telcos are monitoring our online activity
The security and privacy of personal data are being jeopardised as Deep Packet Inspection is deployed by internet service providers.
The Euro-elections in microcosm: Macron versus Le Pen
Marine Le Pen didn’t surge forward in France, yet Emmanuel Macron lacked a winning alternative. It was the populists versus the progressives in the Euro-elections writ small.
The free market is not the answer
Earlier this month, the leader of the youth section of the German SPD ruffled feathers with his call for an ‘attractive utopia’ as an alternative to capitalism.
It’s time to talk about democracy at work
Democracy at work has many benefits but above all it is a matter of human dignity.
Rethinking Europe—a challenge for trade unions
In our ‘Europe2025’ series, setting the agenda for the EU in the new term following the coming elections, Peter Scherrer outlines a project for rethinking Europe from a trade-union perspective.