Top Of The Christmas Wish List: A Working Time Reduction
In our family, Christmas means sending and receiving wish lists. This year, my cousin took a very honest approach and wished for (among other things)
Politics
Analysis and debate on European and national politics, democracy, the rule of law, parties and elections, and Europe’s place in the world.
Trade Unions On Frontline In Battle Against Inequality
The European Commission continues to talk about robust recovery, but with wages falling or stagnating, many people in Europe are worse off than they were
Should The SPD Stay Or Go?
Should I stay or should I go? sang the Clash, a sentiment that comes readily to mind when one considers the dilemma Germany’s Social Democratic
Alignment, Convergence And A Symbolic Brexit
The document agreed by the EU and UK in the early hours of 8 December 2017 is not a contract or treaty, merely a ‘joint
What Is Happening In Catalonia And Spain
On October 1, 2017, the police of the Spanish State (known as the National Police) endeavored to take the polling boxes where Catalan people were
Exit, Brexit, Voice And Loyalty
When thinking about the state of affairs in Europe, including post-crisis developments and Brexit, Albert Hirschman’s classic book Exit, Voice and Loyalty comes to mind.
Enhancing Diversity In Europe
In a recent article in Social Europe, Andrew Watt and Steven Hill contend that the EU “should not fear” secession. The authors argue that Catalonia’s
Parti Socialiste: Squeezed Between Macron and Mélenchon
What would you say is the historic position of the Parti Socialiste in the French political system, and where does it stand after the recent
Sovereignty In Europe: Integrationists And Statists
In most conversations and interviews on what’s broadly called populism, “Trump” and “Brexit” are bracketed. These events in the two largest Anglophone countries are taken,
Australian Labor: Winning By Rejecting Institutionalisation
What is the historic position of the Australian Labor Party within the country’s political system and where does it currently stand? Australia’s got an interesting
Europe As A Solution To Nationalism
José Ortega y Gasset, one of Spain’s pre-eminent intellectuals of the 20th century, wrote in his 1922 seminal work “Invertebrate Spain” that what underpins the
Why Romania Will Not Become A New Poland
The risk of Romania becoming a new Poland, concerning issues related to the rule of law, is extremely slight. This might seem an optimistic statement
UK Labour: Credibly Redefining Left Of Centre
What would you say is the historic position of the Labour Party in the UK political system and where does it currently stand? Certainly, since
Europe – A World-Class Place To Live And Work?
‘A world-class place to live and work.’ That is how President Juncker described Europe at the summit to formally proclaim the EU Pillar of Social
Inequality More Than Matters
Inequality is the biggest challenge of our time. It undermines social confidence and reduces support for democratic institutions. It lurks behind the new toxic relationship
Beyond Bonn: Eco-Social Policies For Social Justice And Environmental Sustainability
COP23 in Bonn sought to maintain the global momentum for ‘green growth’ – to decouple output from greenhouse gas emissions. But the crucial topics of