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.
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 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.
Can Italy survive its self-inflicted wounds?
Italy’s populist government has been keen to blame Brussels for its fiscal-policy constraint. But its own choice of crowd-pleasing spending over public investment and reform should be scrutinised.
Politics in Poland: eternal duopoly or refreshing breeze?
While the European Parliament elections near, politics in Poland is at such a crux that the later parliamentary polls there will have wide reverberations.
Inequality and unions—Brexit, Trump and ‘yellow vests’
Those on modest incomes used to compare themselves only with those around them, muting their anger. Globalisation has raised awareness of the inequality it has fostered but has weakened the unions best placed to fight it—with inchoate rage the result.
A human-centred agenda for the future of work
Much discussion of the future of work suggests it can only be a dystopian, robotic world. But the report of an ILO commission shows how humans, not algorithms, can be in charge.
European Parliament elections: prospects for the left?
Following a string of national defeats, social-democrat parties are ill-prepared as the European Parliament elections loom. Success for the left in May will depend on its ability to reframe the political argument.
For a democratic European government
The election to the European Parliament in May has one major flaw: it cannot lead to the election of a democratic European government.
The Swedish face of inequality
Sweden used to be revered for stemming inequality through progressive taxation and universal welfare. Now tax breaks for the wealthy and 'free choice' in public goods such as education cocoon the rich from the rest.