Will The Left Keep Losing?
In electoral terms, 2017 has been a tough year for the centre-left. A suite of elections has taken place across Western Europe and other advanced
The Half Life Of Gas And Coal At COP23
While Germany has been positioned as a global leader in climate legislation, conflict over climate change policy in COP23’s host country left the Bonn conference’s
Pasok: New Leadership, New Discourse To Revive Greek Social Democracy
What would you say is the current situation of Pasok, the Greek social democratic party? What is the historic position of social democracy in the
Inconvenient Truths About Migration
Sociology, anthropology, and history have been making large inroads into the debate on immigration. It seems that Homo economicus, who lives for bread alone, has
Merkel’s Failure
The failure of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to form a government after the elections a month ago came as a shock for many observers.
Small States Under Pressure
It is not always easy to be a small state in a global world. Many small states seek shelter, some by building alliances with larger
From The Gothenburg Social Summit To A European Social Union
On 17 November, the European Parliament, Council and Commission proclaimed a European Pillar of Social Rights in Gothenburg. The launch of the Pillar signals a
The Twilight Of Angela Merkel
Amid all the crises and upheavals that have battered the European Union over the past decade, one fixed point has been the stolid, stable government
UBI: A Bad Idea For The Welfare State
In its admittedly noble striving for increased social justice, the political left has historically had several ideas that, one might dare claim, were not particularly
ECB, Greece And The Ticking NPL Time-Bomb
After the ECB regulatory tightening on banks’ non-performing loans (NPLs), announced with the well-known “addendum” to its guidance to banks of October 5, a barrage
Social Pillar: Time For Principled Opposition To Austerity Consensus
On 17 November in Gothenburg, Sweden, EU leaders met for a “social summit”, presided over by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, who had
The Political Economy of Illiberal Democracy
Contrary to widespread belief, Viktor Orbán is not in power in Hungary because he is popular. He enjoys the support of no more than one
The Illusion Of Freedom In The Digital Age
Over the last few weeks, media around the world have been saturated with stories about how technology is destroying politics. In autocracies like China, the
Rescuing Economics From Neoliberalism
As even its harshest critics concede, neoliberalism is hard to pin down. In broad terms, it denotes a preference for markets over government, economic incentives
Learning From Catalonia: To Secede Or Not To Secede?
The standoff over Catalan independence from Spain has split not only the region and country itself, but Europe as a whole. Beyond the ongoing pyrotechnics,
We Need A Strong ‘Social Pillar’ To Support Working People
The ‘European Pillar of Social Rights’: it could be a fine example of Euro-jargon masking very little substance, or it could be a chance for
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