Tag archive for ‘A Social Europe’
The End of Social Europe?
As a further round of economic crisis unfolds, many European social democrats seem frozen like a hare in a car’s headlights. They have nothing new to say about how to deal with fiscal deficits – except that the cuts must not occur all at once and that the most vulnerable must be shielded. Otherwise, economists [...]
Europe at the Crossroads: It’s Now or Never!
The European Union is one of the grandest projects in human history – the creation of a new economic, and eventually social, super-state out of the ashes of post-war despair. The founders had a cunning plan: They would create an economic imperative around the production of essentials such as coal and steel, convinced that a [...]
The Good Society Debate continues…
Following the great success of the Good Society Debate, which was led on this website at the end of last year and brought together an unprecedented number of academics, politicians and activists to discuss the future of European social democracy, the organisers (Social Europe Journal, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung London, Soundings Journal and Compass) have decided to continue this [...]
Who will be the Builders of the Good Society?
A reflection on the good society debate so far.
The good society debate will restart on 11 January, with ten final articles. More than eighty people from across Europe have taken part so far. Thank you to everyone for this successful experiment in collective thinking and discussion. I think it is the first of its kind. [...]
Where now for European Social Democracy? Introducing the Good Society Debate
European social democracy needs a fresh start. In the wake of the most severe economic crisis in decades it became clear that social democrats have not paid enough attention to the development of a real political alternative to the dominant free market orthodoxy. When the demand for an alternative politics was there social democrats had [...]
What does Brussels want?
Maybe now, in the midst of the slump, is not the right moment in time to be pondering an integrated social policy for Europe, as other issues appear more pressing and the economic downturn seems to dominate everything.
But maybe now is in fact precisely the right time to be considering these things: it is a [...]
The 2009 European Elections: More of the Same, unfortunately!
In a few weeks’ time citizens of the European Union across the continent will take part in this year’s European Parliament elections. Many others, probably the majority of eligible voters, will once more shun away from the voting booths. The reasons for increasing voter apathy and growing nervousness (bordering on Euro scepticism) about the EU [...]
Diversity and Commonality in European Social Politics: The Forging of a European Social Model
New book edited by STANISLAWA GOLINOWSKA, PETER HENGSTENBERG and MACIEJ ZUKOWSKI
The full book can be downloaded here: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/warschau/06223.pdf
This collaborative study has the ambitious goal of providing a new interpretation and analysis of European social policy since the »Eastern« enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and 2007. It covers six countries, three of which – [...]
European Parliamentary Elections 2009 – Time for a new Direction
Europe has been a fascinating idea of peace, stability and social justice. After decades of unstable balance of power systems, disastrous conflicts and two World Wars, a new era in Europe’s history began when the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was established. The idea ‘to create peace through integration’ became a reality. Following decades [...]
Europe on the Way to a Social Union?
The European Commission’s ‘Renewed Social Agenda’, published at the beginning of July 2008, bears the auspicious subtitle ‘Opportunities, Access and Solidarity in 21st Century Europe’. The Agenda outlines a framework for European social policy in the areas of employment and social affairs, education and youth, health care and the information society.
However, since social policy remains [...]
New Social Europe Website launched!
The all new Social Europe website is now live with more functionality for our readers. We have merged the Social Europe website and Social Europe Blog to have all our content in one accessible place and still offer as much interactivity as possible.
In addition to our traditional PDF version of each journal issue, our articles [...]
Interview – ‘The only solution is to refuse to comply with ECJ rulings’
In recent judgements undermining the right to strike and compliance with collective agreements, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dealt a fresh blow to hopes for a ‘Social Europe’. Political scientist Fritz Scharpf explains the reasoning behind rulings from Europe’s highest court – and explores what can be done to oppose them.
Herr Scharpf, why [...]
