The week of good/interesting EU speeches continues – and they all seem to be happening in Berlin. First, the Polish foreign minister Sikorski, now Helmut Schmidt , former German chancellor, now elder statesman. For the first time in 13 years he addressed the party conference of the SPD. Read the transcript of the speech here [...]
The referendum: populism vs democracy The idea of the referendum as an instrument of the people’s will rests on pre-democratic foundations, says George Schöpflin. I certainly agree! A better way with referendums Interesting idea: Is it possible to introduce a more deliberative approach when holding a referendum? Does “deliberative polling” make citizens more knowledgeable? Instead [...]



