Recently, the debate surrounding the apparently missing narrative of the EU gained momentum. Timothy Garton Ash thinks that “old-fashioned grand narratives and Euromyth will no longer do the trick” and proposes that Freedom, Peace, Law, Prosperity, Diversity and Solidarity should be at the centre of a new debate. Join the debate on his proposal here. [...]
OK, I know this is not very ‘democratic’ but I am happy that someone opened up the debate on the limits of participatory democracy. Lately, the idea of holding a referendum is often presented as THE one and only democratic instrument that we have (especially by Madame Royal). Strangely enough, only relating to EU issues, [...]
Today, Anthony Giddens promoted his new book in Brussels. It is called “Europe in the Global Age” and it is about the “European Social Model”. Before I go into details, I need to stress the fact that I have not read the book and I also do not have the intention to do so. Not [...]
Recent news from Russia are not positive at all. Somehow it feels as if Russia is marching back to Soviet times. The list is long and truly worrying: Economically, the country is run by a handful of oligarchs. Energy is used as a political weapon with a little help of the dubious state controlled Gazprom. [...]



