Society & Participation

The world elects: Assessing the super election year 2024

Elections were held in over 70 countries in 2024, with over half the global population going to the polls. This report assesses the outcomes of these elections and offers reflections on what the impact of the ‘election super-year’ is likely to be on key policy issues and on the deeper systemic state of democracy.

By Richard Youngs

World Refugee Day 2024: Counteracting shipwreck

Commentary

Migration and asylum have been at the top of the agenda in the EU for some time now. Thereby, the discussion is less about solving problems or addressing the suffering of people on the move, but more about preventing people from reaching European soil. This is neither good for the people seeking refuge in our continent, nor beneficial to the political debate on these issues.

By Neda Noraie-Kia

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11 minutes

Germany must not ignore the dismantling of democracy in Argentina

President's column

On 23 June 2024, Chancellor Scholz will receive Argentinian president Javier Milei with military honours. Not only do Milei’s reform plans accept the dismantling of democracy and the rule of law, they will also deindustrialise Argentina. This does not correspond to Germany's interests.

By Imme Scholz

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8 minutes

Advancing gender equality: What perspective for the next EU legislative cycle?

Analysis

With the European Parliament elections taking place between on 6-9 June 2024, the European Union stands at a defining moment. The 2019-2024 term witnessed the breakthrough of long-stagnant gender initiatives, but challenges loom large in advancing gender equality in the EU. This article explores the prospects for the policy directions that will shape the gender equality agenda of the next European Parliament and Commission in this context.

By Victoire Olczak

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Politics of protest. Understanding political protest in Central Europe

The project organized in cooperation with Collegium Civitas examines recent popular protest movements in Central European countries. Six expert seminars serve to examine recent protests in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Invited country experts will discuss the political background, sociological causes and motivations of protests as well as organizational forms of current mobilizations. The case studies will help us to develop a common analytical framework for understanding political protest in the region. Project description.

Publications

Böll.Thema 2/24: Democracy

Worldwide, democracy is under pressure. In this edition of the magazine Böll.Thema we introduce people who inspire us with their commitment to democratic values. Because without dedication and action, there can be no democracy. And without democracy, everything is for naught.

pdf

From democratic resilience to democratic security

E-paper

Based on the 2024 political guidelines and mission letters to the new European Commissioners, the EU’s approach towards democracy seems to have shifted from a focus on democratic resilience towards democratic security. After a thorough examination of the EU’s 2019-2024 democracy agenda, this study presents recommendations for the next legislative cycle.

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Shaping the EU's Financial Architecture for the Future

Policy Paper

The European Union faces the enormous challenge of having to achieve the necessary climate targets it has set itself, while at the same time increasing industrial competitiveness and ensuring public services of general interest. A sustainable European financial architecture based on three pillars is needed to finance these green-social investments at EU level. It is presented in this policy paper.

Our intellectual patron, Heinrich Böll, used to say: “Meddling is the only way to stay realistic”. In keeping with this motto, we support different forms of active civic participation in social life and the struggle for a democratic and friendly world. We particularly care for urban movements, digital rights and freedoms, as well as the development of green political power in Poland and the region.