Social discontent and democracy in the EU
Europe’s citizens stand restive at a crossroads. After the May parliamentary election, democracy in the EU can take a leap forward—or the populists can reprise a dark history.
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.
European Parliament elections—battle for ‘Europe’s soul’?
The European Parliament election campaign is entering full swing—a detailed analysis of the platforms of the main European party groups and what the political consequences might be for the EU over the next five years.
Enforcing labour standards via EU free-trade agreements
Free-trade agreements have raised huge controversy over clauses allowing of corporate challenge. But they can be used to enforce labour standards.
Democracy splutters—good governance under pressure
Amid political polarisation and declining democratic standards, can OECD and EU countries sustain the good governance challenges such as globalisation, social inequality and climate breakdown demand?
Erdoğan’s aggression against Turkey’s Kurds—it’s personal
Turkey’s Kurds have long faced oppression by the state. But they have come to be seen by the Erdoğan regime as the main obstacle to its untrammelled power.
Jeremy Corbyn is wrong on the EU
The UK Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is wrong to believe the EU environment inimical to a radical government. He should support a second ‘Brexit’ referendum.
The migrants genocide: the banality of democracy
The vast numbers drowning invisibly in the Mediterranean have evoked little European sympathy. Redefining this tragedy as the migrants genocide might bring a shock.
The loss of European memory
A commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law was Europe's answer to fascism. The loss of this European memory presents real dangers amid a resurgent populism.
European social rights—Marshall for the 21st century
The European Union has been much more successful at ‘negative’, market-liberalising integration than ‘positive’ social measures. The concept of social rights can change that.
Does the European Union generate external instability?
The historic achievement of peace within a Europe of universal norms is belied by the external instability engendered by violent and incoherent interventions.
Macron the populist
The popularity of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has slumped—but then inside Macron the populist is Macron the elitist.
Europe’s refugee crisis explains why border walls don’t stop migration
The US president, Donald Trump, remains in a standoff with Congress over finance for his much-vaunted Mexico barrier. Europe has learned that border walls are neither a humane nor an effective response to human flow.
Are anti-immigrant parties anti-democratic?
The European Parliament elections may well be dominated by the issue of migration. But should anti-immigrant parties enjoy democratic legitimacy?
From the ‘yellow vests’ to the social-ecological state
The concept of the social-ecological state can inspire a new social policy to tackle the twin crises of inequality and environment.
European citizens back unemployment reinsurance
An unemployment reinsurance scheme benefiting countries hit by asymmetric shocks attracts what to some will be surprising support across the EU.
Migrant workers and xenophobia in the UK labour movement
There has been a growing climate of xenophobia towards migrant workers in the UK in recent years. Unfortunately, parts of the labour movement have been complicit in it.
Social resistance in Hungary
The regime of Viktor Orbán in Hungary had looked impregnable. But protests against the ‘slave-labour law' encapsulated growing social alienation, with a wider European resonance.