Transnational parties in Europe

A candidate for the next presidency of the European Commission supported by all European socialists? That’s what the PES promised, but the latest European campaign underlined how difficult it is. Audio-interviews with MEPs.

Democratising the European Union: Putting Power in the Hands of Citizens

The ‘democratic deficit’ in the European Union is one of the few things that almost everyone knows about it. We have started a campaign for the Parliament to insist that it has the dominant role in deciding the policies of the Union.

The Edu-Factory Machine: Transnational Politics and Translational Institutions
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Edu-Factory is a collective of about 500 militants, students and researchers proposing the project of a global autonomous university, a process of conflict against the hierarchisation and mechanisms of market-based education systems.

Be network my friend

In the context of changing forms of power and control the network is a fertile ground for the rediscovery of autonomous actions and reinvention of political subjectivity.

Who rules the world? Elitism vs Pluralism
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Do you think you will be a history maker? There are those who believe that the world is divided into two groups: the ruling class and the class that is ruled, with the ruling class that controls and shapes the ideas and hence consciousness of the masses. And others who believe that a leader who does not respect democratic values has not the possibility to emerge from local political scene or to reach pivotal positions. Who rules the world?

Bridging the democratic gap?

A somewhat overlooked part of the Lisbon Treaty is the European citizens’ initiative, offering the general public the opportunity to invite the European Commission to consider any legislation which has the backing of more than one million signatories. Could this be just the beginning of greater direct democracy in Europe?

Two New Appointments: Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

The European Union has given itself a new President and a new Foreign Minister. But the nominees have been highliy contested today. The new appointments seem peculiarly low-key and the secretive selection process has done nothing to shed away accusations of lack of democratic accountability.

Two of our regular commentators disagree on the reading of the results.

Campaign for Democratic Presidents

The new president of the European Council is being selected in a thoroughly undemocratic way. Whoever it is should be accountable to the people of Europe, with a question time in the European Parliament as a minimum first step. European Alternatives launches a campaign for Presidents answerable to the People!