This edition focuses on four key debates the that Journal has identified as being crucial to the future of Europe: federalism; sustainability; solidarity; and hospitality. These four debates are gateways to penetrating the transnational complexity of the green debate, interconnecting national public spaces where debates on the fundamental issues for our future are still being carried out.
Articles in this edition
01.07.2013
Building a Common Green Vocabulary
These four debates are gateways to penetrating the transnational complexity of the European environmental debate, interconnecting national public spaces where debates on the fundamental issues for our future are still being carried out in an overly compartmentalised fashion.
Read more01.07.2013
The Progress of the Arts and Ecological Wisdom
Placing our society and economy within an ecological framework will require a radical rethink of what ‘progress’ means as to date this has become synonymous with economic growth. This will mean a change in our relationship with technology and a rebuilding of our social relations.
Read more01.07.2013
End or Beginning? Europe as the Trailblazer of the Green Revolution
The decisive question for the coming decades is not ‘if’ but ‘how’ the global economy will grow. We are currently in the middle of a green revolution in which millions are already participating. To advance, however, we need effective environmental policy at national and international levels. And above all, we need a European Green New Deal.
Read more01.07.2013
Technology, Relocalisation and Self-limitation
The 21st century presents a fascinating paradox: never before in its history has humanity reached such an advanced and refined level of technological development, but never has it come so close to the ecological precipice and global collapse. If this contradiction is to be overcome, political ecology must focus on two priorities: the relocalisation of the economy and the democracy of self-limitation.
Read more01.07.2013
What is Green solidarity?
Reflecting on contemporary and historical debates on the concept of ‘solidarity’ in Sweden, Per Gahrton finds conflicting views on what many take to be a simple concept.
Read more01.07.2013
Solidarity in Europe, Solidarity in the World
Using examples from her own home, Corfu, Vera Koronaki describes the reasons why we need solidarity, both in Europe as well as beyond, and the steps that we can take to achieve it.
Read more01.07.2013
Solidarity and Strength
After considerable research and deliberation, the German political foundation Heinrich Boell Stiftung published its report “Strength and Solidarity” which puts forward a series of proposals in areas such as foreign and security; agricultural; energy; economics and monetary and enlargement policy. The report aims to facilitate discussion within the European Green movement. This is an extract of the report.
Read more01.07.2013
EU as a Project to Enhance Hospitality
The European Union has always been a project that marries differing perspectives – the pursuit of peace and borders open to people, goods and ideas. However the steady evolution of this project has been disrupted by the economic crisis, which has led to a rise of xenophobic, nationalist thoughts. For Jean Lambert, Europe must now confront the idea of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ that exists and work towards creating a truly hospitable EU.
Read more01.07.2013
Some Reflections on Hospitality and Integration in Europe
‘Hospitality’ in the traditional sense is too limited a concept when discussing our relationship with Europe’s migrant communities. Instead what we need is a language that recognises all groups as equal partners striving for a shared identity.
Read more01.07.2013
Integration of Migrants – Ideas and Perspectives from Hungary
Hungary has become an interesting test case for integration and migration policies especially with regard to co-ethnic immigration (those of Hungarian descent born in other countries) and of course the migration of people from other EU countries. This complex relationship is not without lessons on exclusion and inclusion.
Read more01.07.2013
Migrants Must Become Eco-citizens of the World
France’s experience with immigration teaches us that unless we provide real equality, including political and social rights, we will always struggle as a society to cope with our changing demographics. For this to happen, we need to step out of our national context and see this as an issue that needs European level and global attention. This includes looking at environmental and social problems from a global perspective.
Read more01.07.2013
From a Patchwork to a Stable Federal House
It is more vital than ever to transform the porous structure of the EU into a stable, federal house. A key instrument for this is the budget of the EU, through which European problem-solving capacities can be enhanced.
Read more01.07.2013
Combining National and European Allegiances
A Federal Europe cannot come about solely through disparaging national identity. Rather, a Federal Europe needs to be built based around concepts that are understandable to citizens: democratic accountability, transparency and a refrain from simple centralisation.
Read more01.07.2013
Does Federalism Have a Future in Spain?
Federalism in Spain is singularly paradoxical. Although federalism seems, a priori, the most logical politico-juridical solution for a territorial reality as diverse as that of Spain, in fact, it has been and continues to be rejected as much by the main political parties—the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE) and the People’s Party (PP)—as by the nationalist parties.
Read more01.07.2013
More federalism, More Autonomy, More Connections!
Belgian federalism and European federalism have reached the end of an epoch. Both have to be reinvented. To achieve this we must start from our shared interests and recognise the interdependence that links us. Environmentalists who have always been passionate federalists have to be the motors of this reinvention.
Read more