Poland’s Dangerous Seismic Shift To The Hard Right
This weekend saw a political earthquake in Poland. Exit polls from Sunday’s general election indicate that the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) will be
Schäuble’s Gathering Storm
Europe’s crisis is poised to enter its most dangerous phase. After forcing Greece to accept another “extend-and-pretend” bailout agreement, fresh battle lines are being drawn.
A Left Without Labels
What scope is there for the emergence of a Left in Europe able to overcome the mutual suspicions between social democratic parties and those situated
The Global Slowdown And the Narrowing Of The Fed’s Freedom Of Action
On September 17, the Federal Reserve postponed again the decision – ‘announced’ many times in advance – to raise interest rates toward “normal” levels after eight
Industry 4.0: We Don’t Need A New Industrial Policy But A Better Regulatory Framework
Good economic policy rests on a clear idea of what the state and business should do or leave to others. This clear division is missing
Refugees And Responsibility In Central Europe
Fifteen years ago, the Czech statesman and playwright Václav Havel noted that some Czech politicians “recognize two different kinds of violence, genocide, terror, and mafias: one that
The Disintegration Of Europe
If a clear signal was needed that the European Union is falling apart at an alarming rate, Hungary’s construction of razor-wire fences along the border
The End Of German Hegemony
Without anyone quite noticing, Europe’s internal balance of power has been shifting. Germany’s dominant position, which has seemed absolute since the 2008 financial crisis, is
Reviving The EU Social Dimension: A Political Choice
The social dimension of the EU is on the verge of becoming insignificant. At practically all levels there has been a systematic weakening of Social
The Crisis Europe Needs
It’s hard to be optimistic about Europe. Last summer, a political cage match between Germany and Greece threatened to tear the European Union apart. In
Lies, Damned Lies And Statistics On The UK’s EU Membership
How would leaving the European Union affect the UK’s economy? Iain Begg writes that with pro-EU and anti-EU campaigning groups now officially up and running ahead of
Why Turkey’s Repeat Elections Are Unlikely To Ease The Country’s Political Tensions
Turkey will hold elections on 1 November, with the campaign being marred by a bomb attack during a political rally in Ankara on 10 October
Weak States, Poor Countries
In Scotland, I was brought up to think of policemen as allies and to ask one for help when I needed it. Imagine my surprise
Euro Deflation And How To Interpret It
If you read Larry Summers in the Financial Times, you know that recent data confirm falling prices in the euro zone. Summers argues that the
The Mirage Of Structural Reform
Every economic program imposed on Greece by its creditors since the financial crisis struck in 2009 has been held together by a central conceit: that
Nietzsche, Europe And The German Question
The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is best known for his critical texts on religion and morality, but how did he view Europe? Simon Glendinning notes that Nietzsche’s
Has Angela Merkel’s Power Peaked?
Angela Merkel is under pressure. For many years she has been a rock at Brussels’ conference tables dominated by sobering discussions on the economic and