debating progressive politics in Europe and beyond
We all have the feeling that the EU is distancing itself more and more from its citizens. Not only the recent spread of the ‘occupy’ movement to EU countries reflects this, but also prior demonstrations in Athens, Madrid, Reykjavik and other cities highlight the disenchantment citizens feel. This is not only due to the actual [...]
Mr. President, we heard what you said last week in Kansas – about the dangers to our economy and democracy of the increasing concentration of income and wealth at the top. We agree. And many of us are prepared to work our hearts to get you reelected – as long as you commit to doing what [...]
This year, the Global Footprint Network has declared September 27th as “World Overshoot Day”. It was only September, yet all of the Earth’s natural resources for the year had already been used up. Our planet’s clock is ticking. Today, we are using 1.5 times the amount the planet has to offer. But, there remain people [...]
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 [...]
It was, as everyone said, a famous (symbolic) victory. What was wrong, then, with the celebrations in front of the White House? There is an old Jewish commentary on the book of Exodus, which says that when Pharaoh’s army drowned in the sea, the angels in heaven began to celebrate, and God rebuked them: how [...]
Watch Professor Bo Rothstein (Gothenburg University) present his manual for a sustainable solidaristic society. This speech was recorded in Stockholm at the “Justice and Equality for the Good Society Conference” organised by the FES Stockholm, Arbetarrörelsens Tankesmedja and Social Europe Journal on 14/15 April 2011. [vsw id="22477901" source="vimeo" width="425" height="344" autoplay="no"]
Watch Dr Michael Dauderstaedt (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung) discuss the economics of European (in)equality. This speech was recorded in Stockholm at the “Justice and Equality for the Good Society Conference” organised by the FES Stockholm, Arbetarrörelsens Tankesmedja and Social Europe Journal on 14/15 April 2011. [vsw id="22557929" source="vimeo" width="425" height="344" autoplay="no"]
Watch Professor Gesine Schwan (Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance) discuss the equality dimension of education. This speech was recorded in Stockholm at the “Justice and Equality for the Good Society Conference” organised by the FES Stockholm, Arbetarrörelsens Tankesmedja and Social Europe Journal on 14/15 April 2011. [vsw id="22479175" source="vimeo" width="425" height="344" autoplay="no"]
Watch Professor Thomas Pogge (Yale University) discuss global justice and equality. This speech was recorded in Stockholm at the “Justice and Equality for the Good Society Conference” organised by the FES Stockholm, Arbetarrörelsens Tankesmedja and Social Europe Journal on 14/15 April 2011. [vsw id="22477007" source="vimeo" width="425" height="344" autoplay="no"]
After the financial crash of 2008 a great number of observers expected an end of neoliberalism as the dominant principle in economic policy. However, policy change did not occur. Quite the opposite, after a short period of Keynesianism in 2009 governments have returned to neoliberal politics. The 2010 sovereign debt crisis brought about a more [...]
When we started the initiative for the Good Society – during what became the most severe economic crisis since the 1920ies – our starting point was: There is an alternative. We do have a choice. We do not have to go back to unbalanced growth that leads into crises. We do not have to accept [...]
No one disputes that equality and justice belong together. Having said that, everyone is clear that they are not the same. Since Aristotle established justice as proportional equality there have been countless attempts to refine the relationship between the two. For the purposes of discussion I shall examine two current issues: First, How much inequality [...]
All Content