Articles

Renewed polarisation between Macron and Le Pen in the presidential election conceals a pas de deux. Éloi Laurent* For the last 20 years, French politics has been an unforgiving puzzle, whereby democratic votes result in neoliberal and xenophobic policies the French say they resent. Sunday’s presidential election first round is no different. …

As labour increasingly transcends the national container, a European layer of social insurance is increasingly necessary. Susanne Schmidt* and Susanne Wixforth* Economic imbalances among European Union member states provide incentive for many to migrate. The freedoms of the single market set the legal framework. Although regularly employed EU citizens largely …

Nominally egalitarian education systems, Kate Pickett writes, can in reality reproduce deep social inequalities. Kate Pickett* I’ve been reading the economist Thomas Piketty’s most recent book, A Brief History of Equality, just published in English. I found it mostly uplifting—pointing as it does to the long progressive arc towards greater equality that has …

James Zogby discusses the intricacies of supporting Ukraine in the light of the world order’s moral duplicity James Zogby* The battle brewing among some US liberals in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine recalls debates that occurred in the aftermath of Saddam Hussein’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Back …

Longstanding European democracies have suffered troubling erosions to individual rights and freedoms in recent years due to pandemic countermeasures and a host of other reasons. Aarti Narsee* As the coronavirus pandemic moves into its third year, there is no doubt that it will have lasting effects on civic and democratic …

The wealthy are the biggest greenhouse-gas emitters, Jayati Ghosh writes, yet carbon taxes hit the poor hardest. Jayati Ghosh* It should be obvious: natural processes—and the ‘anthropocene’ effects on them—do not observe national boundaries. The atmosphere and the oceans do not rely on visas to cross borders, and the impact …

There has been positive response to the appeal by the Ukrainian president for EU membership. But it won’t come soon. Dorina Baltag* On Sunday, the fourth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appealed for it to be granted membership of the European Union. On Tuesday, members of the …

Antonio Guterres* As the world moves ahead to mark International Women’s Day, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards. All of us are paying the price. The cascading crises of recent years have highlighted how women’s leadership is more crucial than ever. Women have heroically confronted the COVID-19 pandemic …

If the Conservatives are to be defeated at the next Westminster election, Labour must back a coalition alternative.     Frances Foley* It’s the open secret of politics in the United Kingdom: its next government will likely involve more than one party. And recently, for the first time progressive party leaders were reported by …

The Russian president has launched his invasion of Ukraine, but the attack could severely destabilise his regime. Ilya Matveev and Ilya Budraitskis* Russia attacked Ukraine last night. The worst fears have been confirmed. The extent of the invasion is not fully understood, but it is already clear that the Russian …