A Curtain Call For Populism
Seventy years ago in Fulton, Missouri, Churchill delivered one of his most influential speeches. In the cavernous hall of Westminster College, the former UK Prime
Politics
Analysis and debate on European and national politics, democracy, the rule of law, parties and elections, and Europe’s place in the world.
Five Radical Ideas For Beating Inequality
Scratch the skin of any social democrat and s/he bleeds equality. Because of structural weakness we water the concept down into social justice or fairness
EU Social Pillar: A (Potential) New Start For Europe
When EU Heads of State and Government gather in Gothenburg this week to debate fair jobs and growth, it will be the first such ‘social
Germany’s Dangerous Obsession
As Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), seek to form an unprecedented “Jamaica coalition” with the
Why Europe Needs Civic Entrepreneurs
Alberto Alemanno and Michael Cottakis
Europe needs a new breed of entrepreneur. Not just tech entrepreneurs who freeride on our personal data before becoming philanthropists. But civic entrepreneurs who dare
Disunited In Diversity: How National Electoral Outcomes Harm Europe
Parties belonging to the ‘moderate’ political spectrum in today’s Europe have been claiming victory in national elections across EU countries. In the Netherlands, France, Germany
Cart Before The Horse: The Challenge Of The Greek Center-Left’s Open Primary
On November 12, Greek progressives are electing a new leader through an open-to-all primary. Four parties and nine candidates are involved in the challenge. The
Catalonia: Death Of The European Dream
On May 9,1950 the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed “to make war not only unthinkable but materially impossible.” His plan was to create a
A Federal Spain In A Federal Europe
I have always been a profound admirer of Spanish democracy, but especially since February 23, 1981. On that dramatic day, Colonel Antonio Tejero attempted a
Mourning Poland’s Burning Man
Late in the afternoon on October 19, a 54-year-old man outside the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw distributed several dozen copies of a
Rethinking Working Time In Europe
The results of recent Eurofound research on working time patterns in the EU constitute a strong plea for working time policies that clearly acknowledge the
Trade Unions Are Ready To Tackle The Digital Challenge
Since award-winning physicist Stephen Hawking first warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could spell the end of humanity, other experts have echoed his cataclysmic forecast. In
Macron’s Challenge For Europe
In an ambitious, visionary speech at the Sorbonne, French President Emmanuel Macron presented his plan for countering the tide of xenophobic nationalism in Europe. He
This is Progress? Electoral Shocks, Catalunya And The Union
False Optimism from Brussels On September 13 in Strasbourg, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his annual “state of the Union” address.
Beyond Gridlock In World Politics
Can we manage the globalized world we have created? Every day seems to bring new evidence to the contrary. From the wars in the Middle
Jamaica And The Eurozone
Now that the CSU and CDU have come up with a formula to limit the number of eligible refugees, Jamaica negotiations between CDU/CSU, Free Democrats