europe

Debates and articles from across the openDemocracy website that discuss or are relevant to Europe
Friday 10th February

Janusz Palikot’s ‘Cannabis Stunt’ Overshadowed a More Complex Debate about Drug Policy Reform in Poland

Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch, Director, Global Drug Policy Program, and Open Society Foundations, 10 February 2012
Palikot’s symbolic gesture played into the hands of a media that is eager to demonize the decriminalization campaign. The symbol however overshadowed a more complex debate around the decriminalization of cannabis and other illicit drugs in Poland.
Wednesday 8th February

The Left and Israel: a tortured path

Colin Shindler, 8 February 2012
The attitudes of the political left, including left-wing Jews, to Israel have varied greatly across the state's six decades. Loyalties acquired before or independent of Israel's foundation - to the Soviet Union, or to the idea of revolution - have often played a part in shaping them, says Colin Shindler.

Hungary: democracy through twilight

Anton Pelinka, 8 February 2012
The sweeping reform programme of Viktor Orbán's Hungarian government is provoking alarm among its domestic critics and European partners alike. But its economic policies as well as its political ambitions deserve to be put under the microscope, says Anton Pelinka.

Baltasar Garzón, the politics of justice

Pia Navazo, 8 February 2012
The effort by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón to investigate killings of civilians during the era of General Franco’s dictatorship has made him a legal target. The process raises profound legal and moral issues, says Pia Navazo.
Tuesday 7th February

What is energy for?

Rebecca Willis, 7 February 2012
So familiar has the social economy of energy become in modern societies, so routine its extraordinardinary wastefulness, so toxic its effects, that the capacity for a better way can be missed. By questioning the how, why and what of energy use, says Rebecca Willis, new possibilities - of living, travelling, eating, working and buying - can open

Bosnia: blood, honey, and war's legacy

Peter Lippman, 7 February 2012
A film portrayal of the horrors of systematic rape during Bosnia's war of 1992-95 highlights the victims' suffering and bravery. But the romantic thread of Angelina Jolie's work fails to convince, says Peter Lippman.
Monday 6th February

How to understand Hungary

George Schöpflin, 6 February 2012
The portrayal of Hungary and its current government by the international media and external actors is one-sided and lacks context, says the academic and Fidesz member of the European parliament, György Schöpflin. The effects are felt within the country, and raise deeper questions about the European Union and its underlying values.

France's election: looking for light

Patrice de Beer, 6 February 2012
France's disillusion extends beyond the country's president to its political class, economy and sense of social direction. The beneficiaries may include the far-right Marine Le Pen as well as the centre-left François Hollande, says Patrice de Beer.
Saturday 21st January

Rwanda: a step towards truth

Andrew Wallis, 21 January 2012
A new French report into the incident that sparked Rwanda's genocide is of vital importance on three grounds: discrediting false accounts, establishing facts, and raising further questions. But it leaves critical questions unanswered, including over the role of a key French mercenary, says Andrew Wallis
Friday 20th January

Georgia: from diplomacy to politics

Tedo Japaridze, 20 January 2012
A veteran Georgian diplomat has chosen to enter his country's disputatious political arena. A hard decision that had to be made, says Tedo Japaridze.
Thursday 19th January

Tunisia: the power of example

Vidar Helgesen, 19 January 2012
The pioneering role of Tunisia in the Arab awakening is being sustained a year on as it negotiates its democratic transition, says Vidar Helgesen.

The water finds its crack: an Armenian in Turkey

Hrant Dink, 19 January 2012
The "Agos" editor killed in Istanbul on 19 January 2007 speaks for life and truth. Plus: Hratch Tchilingirian on Dink's background, and Fatma Müge Göçek on memory and hope
Tuesday 17th January

Hungary: democracy crisis, diagnosis and appeal

László Rajk, 17 January 2012
The government of Hungary led by Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party is alarming many by its establishment of ever-greater control over the country’s institutions and public life. A group of thirteen Hungarian intellectuals and public figures, who opposed Hungary’s communist regime in the 1970s - among them Gabor Demsky, Miklós Haraszti, György Konrád, and László Rajk - outline their concerns and call on Europe to help halt a slide to a new dictatorship.
Friday 13th January

Margaret Thatcher, between myth and politics

David Hayes, 13 January 2012
A sympathetic film portrayal of Britain’s most divisive modern prime minister fits a broader mood of reappraisal of her years in power, says David Hayes

Italy: racism and risk

Judith Sunderland, 13 January 2012
The refusal of Italy's official agencies to acknowledge the extent of racist crime in the country reinforces the damage inflicted on its victims, says Judith Sunderland.

Europe and democracy-promotion: making good

Jacqueline Hale, 13 January 2012
The Arab uprisings of 2011 are provoking the European Union into a rethink of its approach to encouraging democracy in its neighbourhood. A European Endowment for Democracy with a new kind of mandate could be at the centre, says Jacqueline Hale
Wednesday 11th January

Dear Mr. Monti

Giuseppe Lenzo, 11 January 2012
You have a huge opportunity on your hands: responsibility and social justice can be brought back into the Italian system with sacrifice and good governance. Tackling political salaries and the duopoly of the television networks would be a good start
Sunday 8th January

Where were you when Europe fell apart?

Per Wirtén, 8 January 2012
Too many Europeans have too long avoided the question of Europe. To prevent the EU from turning into a "post-democratic regime of bureaucrats", intellectuals need to stop mumbling and take their and our fear of Europe seriously

Structural funds and crocodile tears

Iannis Carras, 8 January 2012
Misdirected EU aid has strengthened rent-seeking elements in the Greek economy and fostered political clientelism, writes Iannis Carras. Instead of learning from mistakes, current EU/IMF policy favours construction and privatization of state land, enabled through a legal sleight of hand. Quite apart from the environmental risks, this is counterproductive in economic terms
Saturday 7th January

Eurozone take-over

Julian Rose, 7 January 2012
Poland's premier is ready to lead Poland into a new servitude to corporate greed
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