How democracy can win again
Democratic erosion in Hungary is symptomatic of structural problems afflicting most democracies, even threatening the future of civilisation.
Young people and planetary justice
Ultimately, resolving the collective-action dilemma of preserving a liveable planet will require a UN ‘constitution of the Earth’.
On the EU’s Belarus border, security and fundamental rights collide
Weronika Grzebalska argues that Lukashenka’s thrashing around in eastern Europe forces progressives to offer a positive alternative on security.
Minimum-wage directive: the case for a ‘social partners option’
Adding a ‘social partners option’ to the minimum-wage directive could unblock negotiations while protecting well-functioning collective bargaining systems.
All together now: facing the global challenges of our time
Recent headlines make it seem an inauspicious moment for a progressive transatlantic political alliance—yet this couldn’t be more urgent.
Norway’s oil and money up for grabs in the coming election
Norway’s electorate has an existential choice to face about its Oil Fund, associated with domestic prosperity but looming climate catastrophe.
Not seeing the wood for the trees—the EU’s environmental blunder
Supporting a conversion to wood burning has unwittingly incentivised power plants to increase greenhouse gases.
Rescuing the concept of precarity
The cause of the precariat isn’t helped by fuzzy thinking about who and what it is.
The consequences of neoliberal capitalism in eastern Europe
Sheri Berman argues that post-communist left embrace of economic as well as political liberalism allowed populists to target the latter.
Left-wing austerity during international crises—it’s the financial markets, stupid!
Left governments adopted more conservative fiscal policies than right governments in recent crises. They have dire electoral consequences.
Turkey and the Istanbul convention—fighting to keep it alive
The Turkish president no doubt thinks his decision to de-ratify the Istanbul convention is irreversible. The main opposition party disagrees.
Progressive mayors in central and eastern Europe challenge the status quo
Major cities in central and eastern Europe have elected liberal mayors. But socially conservative attitudes are unlikely to shift at national level.
Platforms put a spoke in the wheels of Spain’s ‘riders’ law’
The Ley de Riders, recognising delivery riders as employees, is now a reality. But is it a game-changer?
Wellbeing at work—it’s time to up the ante
The new EU health-and-safety strategy risks being a missed opportunity to address workplace mental health and wellbeing.
Stefan Löfven—welding progressives together and keeping the far right at bay
The Swedish social-democrat leader, shortly to step down, didn’t buckle under pressure despite a slender parliamentary hold.
How Big Tech money skews the European playing-field
Record spending by technology companies lobbying the EU represents a democratic problem.
National egoism versus planetary responsibility
Tackling the climate crisis is fundamentally incompatible with our understanding of sovereignty.