Populism is not the problem
Why we should focus on values in political debate instead of style
Populism is everywhere these days. Not only as a phenomenon but also as a topic in political discourse. Yet, the closer you look at it, the more you will realize that populism is quite a messy term. It signifies everything from an unease towards dissent, to the fear of a weakened democracy. More importantly, once you get a grip on how you define the term you will realize that populism may be destructive and inflammatory but is not the real problem. It is mostly a symptom for fundamental conflicts in society.
Security Pivot Towards a Police State in France
Populisms' Slippery Slope
The first European Thinking Lab took place from 25-27 November in Lisbon. During the Summit, the contributors cooperated within their Thinking Lab and worked out brief policy proposals. Félix Blanc is engaged with the topic of a Security Pivot towards a Police State in France.
On the Making of Trump – The Blind Spot That Created Him
Otto Scharmer analyses the factors underlying Trump's victory
According to Scharmer, three main divides within the United States contributed to the success of Donald Trump, which took many by surprise.
We Need Good Answers Now
Hanno Burmester on the election of Donald Trump
The helplessness of the left allows the triumph of the right. Five hypotheses on the election of Donald Trump
CEAR: Towards a Dignified Life
Report on Discrimination and Persecution on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Within this report, CEAR (The Spanish Commission for Refugees) examines the situation of LGBT refugees both within Spain as their host-country and within their countries of origin. The analysis depicts the hardships of refugees that have to experience intersectional discrimination, stemming both from discrimination on the basis of ethnicity and discrimination due to their gender identity and sexual orientation.
What We Can Learn from Populists – A Populist Backlash in the Philippines
Duterte: The Success of the "Celebrity Maverick"
How come the “celebrity maverick” has proven so successful with his unconventional, violent and vile approach? Why does Duterte’s populism attract so many voters and enabled him to become President?
After Trump’s Success: A Convergence of the Populist Challenge
The unexpected happened and we are still searching for an answer why it happened and what might be the adequate response. This essay attempts to look for the reasons of the current success of populists on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and to face the challenge that is produced by this convergence.
The EU Must Focus on the Root Causes of Migration
Following the latest tragedy involving migrants, 28 members and leaders of the EU have initiated plans for a military operation to combat criminal gangs who smuggle refugees in thousands per ship. The details of the initiative still need to be clarified, and the body of water where the operation will cover needs to be decided. This will require Libya’s permission to destroy the smugglers’ boats in its territorial waters. The EU needs to obtain a mandate in order to operate under Chapter 7 of the United Nations (UN) charter.
Thinking Lab’s Working Definition of Populism
A clarification written by Judith Rohde-Liebenau
Populism is a political movement that can adapt to different ideologies and often emerges in times of (perceived) societal change. The concept is contested in the social sciences and there is no clear, universally applicable definition.
After Brexit, should the Eurozone pursue full political union?
Brendan Simms in the New Statesman Magazine about possible trajectories of the European Union after the Brexit.