Public discourse in the populist age—a trade-union perspective
Winning the battle against the populists means foregrounding and addressing social inequalities, not presuming political liberalism monopolises the alternative.
The challenge ahead: a safer and more dynamic Europe
In the latest in our ‘Europe2025’ series, Gustav Horn focuses on macroeconomic institutional reforms for financial stability and a programme of investment to engender vital public goods.
Libra: Facebook’s new currency fails the Hayek test
Libra means ‘balance’ in Latin. But Peter Bofinger argues that Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency would be highly risky for holders and a giant enrichment programme for the company.
Turning the tide on violence and harassment at work
The #MeToo movement raised global awareness about the experience of harassment at work—now we have a potentially far-reaching ILO convention to combat the phenomenon.
Creating social legitimacy in the EU
The EU will only survive long-term if it builds its future agenda on broad public support through open dialogue and innovative consultation.
Social democrats and their allies—where now after the elections?
Close scrutiny of the European Parliament and recent national elections belies a simple story of long-run decline for social democrats. A progressive programme is key to revival.
EU complicit in criminalising search and rescue
The arrest of the captain of an NGO rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean highlights the EU’s inaction in the face of Italy’s increasingly hostile agenda.
Time for postcapitalism
Paul Mason continues his sketch of a postcapitalist world by drawing out its implications for something in increasingly short supply—time.
Is there a revival of the Socialist Party in Spain?
The April general election in Spain was certainly a step forward for the Socialist Party. But that was only a recovery from its ‘third way’ step back.
Social justice in the Treaty of Versailles: a very brief history
The centenary of the Treaty of Versailles should remind us how closely it connected the fragile promise of peace to the quest for social justice.
Young, educated and jobless
A decade after the onset of the global crisis, youth unemployment remains high in many industrialised countries. But it’s not an act of nature.
The far-right international is here—when will the left wake up?
The political forces most hostile to European integration are also the only ones to have formulated a common vision for Europe.
Europe’s future: democracy and equality should come first
In our ‘Europe2025’ series, Jan Zielonka offers a vision of a normative, not a technocratic, Europe, driven by the values of democracy and equality.
Facebook’s Libra must be stopped
After years of disregarding privacy, exploiting user data and failing to control its platform, Facebook has unveiled a cryptocurrency and payment system that could take down the entire global economy.
The gender pay gap: where to start?
The gender pay gap in the EU remains stubbornly wide. Unpacking it highlights its wide social ramifications.
New UK regulations aim to end gender stereotypes in adverts—but could go further
Advertisers still often hit consumers with gender stereotypes. And so they often miss—at their own business expense.
Beyond the EU budget zero-sum game
Discussion of the EU budget brings strife between supposed net contributors and beneficiaries. Yet the picture is more complex and Europe-wide taxation offers a way out.