debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond
As the economic slump across the European Union deepens and social distress grows, a terrible sense of political impotence grips those desperate to see recovery. There is a blunt reality to be faced: if progressives cannot respond to the crisis in the Euro-area with an effective alternative, there is a growing danger not only that the [...]
In recent years, the European Union – or, more accurately, the powerful countries of northern Europe – has been subjecting its weaker members to social and political “stress tests” in the name of fiscal rectitude. As a result, southern Europe and parts of Eastern Europe have become a kind of public-policy laboratory, with experiments producing [...]
How would you describe the political situation in Italy? Well, it was easier to elect Pope Francis I. than a new Italian Prime Minister. The word “fog” was used by the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, during a recent conference. One of the other conference speakers referred to Giorgio Napolitano as, “A sort of [...]
The outcome of the Italian elections should send a clear message to Europe’s leaders: the austerity policies that they have pursued are being rejected by voters. The European project, as idealistic as it was, was always a top-down endeavor. But it is another matter altogether to encourage technocrats to run countries, seemingly circumventing democratic processes, [...]
At the beginning of Europe, there was Italy. Ancient Rome copied Greek culture, but politically the Roman Empire dominated the Mediterranean universe and set the agenda for future empires.[1] Later, the Renaissance in Florence invented modernity and from there “Western” values took over the world. Italy was also a founding member of the Treaty of [...]
The Italian elections have again revealed the degree of political discontent with ‘austerity Europe’. The only good news, as Paolo Borioni made clear, is that in contrast to countries such as Greece Italy’s protest vote did not lead to a strengthening of extreme political forces. When I visited Athens about a week ago this graffiti [...]
Following the weekend’s elections, Italy now appears to be facing a hung parliament, with a centre-left majority in the Chamber of Deputies and a fragmented Senate. The real winner writes Valentino Larcinese, has been Beppe Grillo’s 5 Star Movement, which gained 25 per cent of the vote. He argues that the movement’s success illustrates that austerity is now [...]
Keep calm and accept the basic facts: No matter how much qualitatively better than Berlusconi, no left-wing coalition could ever achieve large majorities and broad popular support after having been part of a Grand Coalition implementing policies such as those contained in Monti’s austerity packages. To be sure, Berlusconi’s coalition was also bitterly defeated: Compared [...]
2013 is now upon us and when it comes to German politics it is already clear what the climax of this year will be: the federal elections in September. As 2012 drew to a close, the election campaign was already well under way. But rather than focusing on the policies needed to overcome the many [...]
The European Union has a long track record as a global beacon of peace, prosperity, and success in fields ranging from culture and science to sports. And yet Europe has attracted more global attention in the last two years than it did in the previous six decades, as its debt crisis – exacerbated by a [...]
And so, amidst much fireworks and fanfare, the curtain closes on yet another US presidential election. After well over a year of campaigning and an estimated $6 billion spent (including by SuperPacs), we ended up with the same president and roughly the same Democratic-controlled Senate and GOP-controlled House. Status quo prevailed. It looks like we can look [...]
The race was tough, but US President Barack Obama has won re-election. The question now, for the United States and the world, is what will he do with a fresh four-year term? To win re-election with a still-weak economy and unemployment close to 8% was not easy. Many leaders – Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, and [...]
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