Social Media Platforms Should Tell The Truth
The high quality democracies of northern Europe are an unnatural construct, history teaching us that the universal default setting of human society is authoritarianism. There
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 Trade Union Message To European Leaders
The economic situation and employment rates in Europe are improving. But it is much too early for complacency. Unemployment is still too high, most of
Brexit, Trade Agreements And The Future Of Labour Standards
Regulatory standards and their enforcement, particularly of labour standards, are especially vulnerable under the auspices of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in a context of
Italy: After Defeat, Who Does The Left Want To Represent?
One possible reading of the March 4 vote in Italy is it follows the same as the UK’s Brexit, Trump’s victory in the last US
How Can Europe’s Social Services Solve A Growing Recruitment Crisis?
Against a backdrop of ageing societies and the associated increase in long-term conditions such as dementia, long-term care is growing in importance in all European
Nothing’s Left
To understand the results of the Italian general elections, one needs look no further than the vote distribution in Milan: the Democratic Party (PD) –
How To Defeat The Populist Progression
Since 2015 international politics have sped up and changed direction. The return to power of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), led by Jaroslav Kaczynski
A European Germany Returns?
The outcome of the negotiations for a Grand Coalition in Germany has been remarkable. For the SPD to get foreign affairs and labour is not
How Social Democrats Can Bring Real Change
How do social democrats change things? The traditional method has been to win elections, inhabit the state, pull the levers of the state and hey
Eastern Europe’s Right-Wing Shift Is Not Unique
The Italian elections have confirmed the rightward shift in European politics and the further marginalisation of the left. Following events such as the Brexit referendum,
The People Vs. Democracy?
The election result in Italy, where populists and far-right parties topped the polls, following the twin disasters of Brexit in the United Kingdom and Donald
Italy: First European Country In The Hand Of Populists?
The general assumption was that the political and parliamentary landscape of Italy would become more complex after the 2018 elections. However, quite unexpected was the
More Democracy At Work? Do We Need That?
“What you are going to put on your political agenda is pretty much out of date,” was the comment of a trade unionist with 50
EU Takes Beating In Italian Elections: When Will They Ever Learn?
Sending a Message In Chapter 5 of the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament of the Judeo-Christian Bible, mysterious writing begins to appear on
Fear, Loathing And Poverty: Italy After The 2018 Elections
The post-election map of Italy has two main traits: fear and poverty. Northern and Central regions have gone to a Centre-Right-wing coalition where the leader
Posted Workers: More Europe Is More Freedom
Will the period of postings be shortened from 24 months to 12 (with a potential 6-month extension) as proposed last week by the negotiators on