Ireland’s Brexit Borders: A Possible Solution
In the Brexit negotiations the European Council says it will ‘protect’ Ireland’s cross-border Peace Process; given ‘the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, flexible
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.
Populism, Austerity And Democratic Deficit
Critiques of the European Union target a political problem – the so-called democratic deficit – and an economic (and social) one: austerity, sometimes subsumed under
Macron And The Nordic Model
Emmanuel Macron’s political success has surprised many political commentators. The fact that in a large country like France with long-standing political traditions and within a
The Varieties Of Populist Experience
Emmanuel Macron’s decisive defeat of Marine Le Pen in the French presidential runoff was a major victory for liberal Europe. But it was a battle,
Can Macron Move Europe Forward?
Can Emmanuel Macron succeed in reforming the European Union and the Eurozone? The European question was already central to the French Presidential campaign itself: the
European Pillar Of Social Rights Mirrors EU Good Intentions And Contradictions
On 26 April the European Commission presented its long-awaited proposal for establishing a European Pillar of Social Rights designed to achieve ‘upward convergence’. Very much
Work-Life Balance Policies – A Game Changer For Europe?
The European Commission, mindful again – finally – of its political role and responsibilities to uphold the law and the values of the European Union,
Do We Know What Kind Of Brexit Theresa May Really Wants?
The first contacts between the lead European Commission Brexit negotiators and the UK prime minister Theresa May appear to have got off to a disastrous
French Voters Hold Key To Saving Europe
Even if it is likely to be averted in the second round of the Presidential election, France’s populist temptation should not be underestimated, as it
Smooth Brexit In Interests Of Germany As Much As UK
There is a general perception in the UK that the remaining EU states, and Germany especially, would like to punish Britain for withdrawing from the
The French Election and Europe’s Future
A lot can happen between now and the second round of the French presidential election on May 7, so it is still too early to
Four Key Features Of Emerging ‘Trumpism’
While international opinion polls recorded uniformly negative reactions to Donald Trump’s election, the markets reacted positively, except for a few hiccups mostly caused by Trump-generated
Macron’s Mission
The centrist Emmanuel Macron’s success in the first round of the French presidential election is likely to re-energize Europe. Unlike the other candidates, Macron does
EU Needs Fair Work-life Balance
When the nuts and bolts of the long-awaited European Pillar of Social Rights are unveiled at the end of April, the European Commission will at
The Politics Of Nostalgia
Western democracies are facing a new threat: pessimism. Recent surveys reveal that 65 percent of Europeans and North Americans think the world is getting worse
Is There A Future For Social Democracy In Europe?
The response to the Great Recession from European social democratic/centre-left parties, with some notable exceptions like Portugal’s, was largely to implement the austerity policies of
How do Progressives Fight Back Against Populism?
In recent years, the European Union has suffered through a cascading set of crises, including the Eurozone crisis, the refugee crisis, the security crisis, and