debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond
The expert on western European politics Peter Mair has diagnosed a ‘hollowing out’ of politics in recent decades, as parties have become less representative voices for diverse groups of the citizenry and more mediatised vehicles for members of a detached political class to insert themselves into government.[1] This is particularly clear in France, with its [...]
The Good Society Debate is back! In the latest instalment of the most comprehensive social democratic online debate ever we will look in detail at political parties and their functions in a Good Society. It seems beyond doubt amongst experts that political parties – by the way not only in the progressive spectrum – have [...]
The Guardian reports as yet unpublished figures from the International Energy Agency showing a record annual increase in CO2 emissions and a record absolute level in 2010. Climate experts warn that the agreed goal of keeping climate change within 2 degrees is rapidly becoming unattainable. The new numbers confirm a number of things we already [...]
The U.S. economy continues to stagnate. It’s growing at the rate of 1.8 percent, which is barely growing at all. Consumer spending is down. It’s vital that we understand the truth about the American economy. How did we go from the Great Depression to 30 years of Great Prosperity? And from there, to 30 years [...]
Nearly one American in two is currently “financially fragile” – unable, that is, to come up with $2000 dollars in 30 days to deal with an unexpected emergency.[1] That fragility presumably does not stretch out to the fortunate few employed by Goldman Sachs, collectively the recipients of the reportedly $15.4 billion set aside by the [...]
One of the enduring failures of developed economies is the persistence of high levels of unemployment, and other involuntary non-participation in the labour force, even at the best of times. There are strong reasons, in terms of justice and equality, for the introduction of job guarantee schemes. As well as being an ethical imperative, it [...]
Social democracy has arguably been more aware of historical change than any other political movement. Liberals tend to believe that historical change is something that cannot and should not be influenced, beyond the creation of a minimal state. Conservatives might be interested in history but the idea that mankind could consciously make its own history [...]
In almost every part of the world, long-festering problems can be solved through closer cooperation among neighboring countries. The European Union provides the best model for how neighbors that have long fought each other can come together for mutual benefit. Ironically, today’s decline in American global power may lead to more effective regional cooperation. This [...]
In the social democratic debate in Europe the arguably most interesting discussion is currently held in the British Labour Party around Blue Labour – a renewed form of communitarian social democracy – and the Good Society. If you want to catch up with the arguments you can now do so by downloading and reading a [...]
Metalworkers will shortly be coming together in Duisburg for the EMF Congress 2011 to set their agenda for the next 4 years. An agenda based on investment, fairness and solidarity. A central pillar of ensuring all 3 elements of this agenda is a proactive industrial policy at European level. A strong sustainable manufacturing base is [...]
It was a party with a lot of self-confidence that gathered for a conference in Karlstad in western Sweden this weekend. The Swedish Green Party see themselves as riding on top of the great contemporary green wave. And certainly there is cause for confidence. Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time and the party has [...]
The crisis of the eurozone seems to be going from bad to worse. Not only have the key players not yet found convincing solutions for the fiscal problems in Greece, Ireland and Portugal but we are already witnessing the beginning of a political backlash that could undermine the achievements of decades of European integration. There [...]
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