Social rights

‘What is the problem here?’ - The new non-wave of EU immigration

Ani-immigration wave

What has been conspicuously lacking in most of the ‘debate’ around the issue is the fact that member states are seeking to evade or fudge their legal responsibilities, as well as a more principled debate about what being an EU member state should mean on an ideological level. 

Switzerland’s announcement earlier this week that it will impose a quota on immigration was greeted with dismay by France, Germany and other EU members.

Updated on: 12 February 2014

“COMMUNIST ZOMBIES”: NOTES ON ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN SLOVENIA

Julija Sardelić
Slovenian protests

it is important to understand that the current and ongoing protests, described by many as the Slovenian uprisings, cannot be reduced to anti-austerity protests similar to those in other parts of the European Union. The uprisings in Slovenia should be seen as a protest through which people living in Slovenia are manifesting their mistrust and resentment toward the political elites and are stating their decision to take the future into their own hands. 

Slovenia has often been portrayed as an idyllic alpine state, home to hardworking and diligent people.

Updated on: 14 February 2013

Farewell to our social rights? Hungarian governments and their most vulnerable groups

Zsuzsanna Vidra
Homeless

In today’s Hungary the poor suffer from the attacks of the present political regime that has openly declared its intention to create a strong national middle class based on a firm work ethic principle. As the Prime Minister, Mr Orbán stated, “all countries have to undertake the correction of their welfare state. It is more difficult in the West because there they have well-established welfare regimes while it is less difficult in Central Europe because the welfare state has not been constructed here. (…) Our program is to create a society based on work instead of the uncompetitive Western type of welfare state.”

Hungary has gained a dubious reputation lately for its conservative right wing government (in power since 2010) taking a whole series of undemocratic steps.

Updated on: 16 January 2013

The citizens of the future

Eric Gordy
Youth and unemployment

The general impression one gets from the research on youth is the emergence of a large group of people who do not trust institutions and try to build their lives outside of them. They could function as citizens but are obstructed in this ambition. Their state and parties are self-serving and self-sufficient, and do not want them.

There is nothing in the recent research on young people in Serbia that will be terribly surprising to anybody who has been paying attention over the last twenty years. Young people are continuing to become more marginal as the society gets older and monopolies of opportunity become more rigid.

Updated on: 7 January 2013
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