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Liam Fox and the worst secret trade stitch up you've never heard of

The EU/US 'TTIP trade deal' is dead - but another deal that will do similar damage to our public services and protections is almost in place already. And the socialists are split...

openDemocracy.net - free thinking for the world

Liam Fox and the worst secret trade stitch up you've never heard of

The EU/US 'TTIP trade deal' is dead - but another deal that will do similar damage to our public services and protections is almost in place already. And the socialists are split...

openDemocracy.net - free thinking for the world

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A weekly roundup of critical debate on the European project.

The EU must not abandon African democracy as it battles populism at home

The EU is facing an existential crisis and a year of tumultuous elections in member states, but now more than ever, the bloc needs to prove that collective foreign policy can make a difference.

The Slovenian United Left: from protest to movement, and from movement to party

Overlooked by many in Europe, a quickly growing radical left party in Slovenia is providing an example to movement and party builders across the continent.

The Emperor’s new clothes: identity politics in Romania 10 years after joining the EU

Romania celebrated its first decade as a member of the EU on 1 January 2017. This then is a time for assessing what this decade has meant for the country that still lies, geographically speaking, at 'the margin' of Europe.

Radical left strategies in the era of the collapse of 'Actually Existing Liberalism'

A few decades after the fall of ‘actually existing socialism’, we are experiencing the fall of ‘actually existing liberalism’, so to speak. How should the left approach this historical moment?

The challenge is not so different in Germany from the rest of Europe

Philosopher and activist Thomas Seibert at the "Brexit Britain: what went wrong and what next?" conference in October, last year. (Video archive, 12 mins)

Solidarity Cities: cities acting for refugee integration

An initiative on the management of the refugee crisis proposed by the Mayor of Athens and launched in the framework of the EUROCITIES network.

Who killed bourgeois democracy in Europe?

When a system calls itself democracy, but forces increasing parts of the demos (people) to live under poverty, its own central concept gradually becomes hollow.

Why are Polish people so wrong about Muslims in their country?

Although Muslims in Poland constitute less than 0.1% of the total population, a recent survey found that Poles believe that 7% of their country is Muslim.

A small picture in the big picture of Erdogan’s Turkey

The judicial arm of the Erdogan leadership has decided to make an example of Istar Gözaydin: even the most moderate critics will not be tolerated.

Inside Basmane

Basmane is a district within the city of Izmir (western Turkey), where due to its multicultural heritage and solidarity, many refugees have found safe haven. Photo-essay.

Make justice great again

openJustice had its official launch party this week. Helena Kennedy talked about access to justice, justice post-Brexit and the future of human rights in the UK. Watch it here.

Parliamentarians - wake up!

The author launches a new blog with a message on Brexit – parliament wake up! Former Labour parliamentarian replies on how to correct the imbalance exploited by Thatcher, Blair and May.

UK counter-extremism agenda: ‘Safeguarding’ as routine punishment and collective self-policing

The programme’s operation depends on collective self-policing through fear of punishment. These practices become yet another bureaucratic performance indicator.

Bauman's legacy

Zygmunt understood the crisis of a social democracy built on solid jobs, fixed identities and bounded within nation states, and paved the way for thinking about the need for progressive alliances. Español

Some initial thoughts before a Trump presidency

If – and this is a big if – Democrats continue mobilizing immigrant voters of color, this election will be a reactionary blip in a longer-term pluralization and democratization of America.

Human rights in a state of perpetual emergency

How long will it take for the European 'crisis' to be re-framed as the new norm, and what are the potential consequences of that shift?

Finland experiments with a basic income scheme for unemployed

It’s the first country in Europe to put the idea into practice.

'Populism' and 'counter-populism' in the Atlantic mirror

There are three major lessons for we Europeans in the US presidential elections. They necessarily lead us towards the imagining of a transnational counter-populism.

A Europe of two narratives

European institutions are not the home of rational debate that influences outcomes. But if the rules-are-rules narrative is not replaced it will lead to the break up of the Union.

A tribute to Sadek Jalal al ‘Azm

Engaging with Sadek never ceased to be a delight, a charmer who caught you with his sharpness and wit. How often have I wished to freeze that year I spent in Holland. In memoriam.

What would a populist Corbyn look like?

Eight things the UK's Labour leader should do if he wishes to catch the populist wind.

'We don't want a Charlie Hebdo in Sweden'

In small town Sweden, a Syrian immigrant has tried to bridge the gap between "Swedes" and "newcomers" by organising pioneering cultural events in her local library.

Professional skill-sharing should be at the heart of refugee inclusion

Programmes such as 'Swedish for Professionals' pave the way in providing practical support for recent migrants, as well as ensuring wider social inclusion.

Refugee solidarity: the view from Ghent

A coordinator from the Ghent Taskforce on Refugees outlines that the best approach to integrating refugees is one grounded in solidarity, not charity.

The battle of governments against extremism has to be credible

Byrne writes, ‘the starting point for radicalisation may in fact be rage rather than religion…it’s not the madrassa that is the problem, it’s your mates.’ Book review.

Rojava, where water is twice as expensive as oil

Turkey is now in Jarablus town with Special Forces personnel and heavy weapons including tanks, and making advances enabling it to control a strategic part of the region.

Catalonian lessons: civil society has something to offer on the gaming tables of governance

A statement made before the Catalan Parliamentary Committee for the Study of Anti-Corruption Measures and for Democratic Regeneration.

Turkey’s draft constitutional amendments: harking back to 1876?

Detailed regulations in the draft raise the prospect of a possible perpetual state of emergency hinging on a perception of personal threat.

The deadly consequences of Europe’s border militarization

Refugees are using other, often more dangerous, routes, contributing to the increase in migrant deaths that we have seen in 2016.

Bigotry seeks company in the UK

We historians at the University of Warwick are very concerned about the racism that is becoming increasingly commonplace over Britain, especially in the aftermath of the Brexit vote.