civil society

Activist András Istvánffy on ‘Hungary's permanent protest culture since 2006’

While the Hungarian government has been closing popular venues, the 4K! or fourth republic! movement has been attempting to reclaim public places through flash mobs and other actions. We meet the platform's coordinator

by Andras Szirko @ // 09/02/12

civil society, fidesz, activism, hungary, youth, budapest, interview

Bye bye eat pray sado-love Europe 2011

Humiliation, pain and sadism were some of the key emotions felt over this past year. Unemployed, previously unheard European citizens helplessly clung onto the wheel of fortune 2011 as we watched key political figures fall and saw a strengthening of belief in ourselves as we tried to understand the change that was happening. It was a violent year but a certain peace navigated the courses of the waters and a long-lost love ranked high on the charts. All we aim to have left for 2012 is hope. Season's greetings and see you in the 'happy' new year! (Illustration: © Kristof)

• Read the special edition Bye bye eat pray sado-love Europe 2011
• 2011: God Bless Relativised Europe
• University of Love questionnaire for EU
• Hope in 2011: Tahrir and Puerta del Sol utopias
• Peace in 2011: 'solutions to conflicts do exist’
• 'What if?': students re-imagine 2011's big events

Multiculturalism in Italy: a Roman cocktail

Is Italy racist? This is the question posed by European media, some of which don’t hesitate to point to a lethal dose of racism particularly following the murder of two Senegalese in Florence. However, four journalists and a photographer sent to Rome by cafebabel.com chose instead to talk about the multicultural imprint of a nation which counts 5.4 million immigrants from non-EU countries. Of course, it’s not all sweetness. The Roma continue to battle for a decent future, while young Italians are fleeing a country which is losing its identity. However, second generation immigrants are aware of the civic role which they can play, while the piazza Vittoria in central Rome is a multicultural epicentre, a mixed drink shaken up in the most open of kitchens. In the view of these diverse facts, cafebabel.com is serving up a Roman cocktail which will warm you to embrace the ‘other’, turning away from the bar-side brawls stirred up by press-gang headlines. (Image: © Ehsan Maleki)

• Read the special edition Multiculturalism in Italy: a Roman cocktail
• Multiculturalism in Italy: emigration and exodus
• Second generation Romans in multicultural Italy
• My beautiful camp: Italy's Roma success stories
• Multiculturalism in Piazza Vittorio, Rome

City planning in Budapest: making poverty invisible

Since the new conservative majority came to power in Budapest in 2010, the local council's anti-poverty strategies include putting a ban on begging in public spaces and reversing an old tradition: the 'social' management of bulk refuse collection known as 'lomtalanitás'

by Ludovic Lepeltier @ // 07/11/11

civil society, discrimination, hungary, budapest, poverty, homeless, society

From Breivik to Khaled Said: a digital revolution

The year 2011 showed us the force of new media in political debates, whether in the European protests, the Arab revolutions or the terrifying attack committed in Norway in July. Political engagement is now affordable for everyone, everywhere. Is this immediacy which now defines political engagement compatible with our democracies?

by Charlotte-India Moore @ // 30/09/11

civil society, anders behring breivik, europe, internet, arab spring, facebook, jasmine revolution

French perspectives on London riots: 'so 2005'

Rioters were brought before the courts, police failings were discussed. What were the causes of the unprecedented violence that the UK witnessed in August? The authorities, driven by traditional populism and reactionary politics, refused to analyse them in-depth in the moment. Perspective from across the channel

by Sehnrev @ // 13/09/11

civil society, economical crisis, discrimination, london, david cameron, united kingdom, riots

Stalking Obama in Detroit: getting all 1930s French socialist on us?

French photojournalist Helene Bienvenu and filmmaker Nora Mandray recently moved to Detroit from Budapest and Los Angeles to write and direct a documentary. On the way, president Barack Obama visited Michigan’s largest city on the first Monday in September, which is a version of Europe’s 1st May bank holiday

by Helene Bienvenu @ // 08/09/11

civil society, labour, barack obama, america, united states, politics, elections

Being a Beşiktaş football supporter in Istanbul

There are three big football teams in Istanbul: the aristocratic Galatasaray, the Asian Fenerbahçe and the self-proclaimed ‘people’s team (‘halk takim’), Beşiktaş. The fans of the latter are known to be politically active. The Beşiktaşli, as they are called, stand up for social progress and football integrity

by Tania Gisselbrecht @ // 27/07/11

civil society, football, sport, citizens, turkey, istanbul, society

Try finding an Arab revolution in Albania

Late afternoon, outside the headquarters of Tirana’s central electoral commission. A rather burly group of Albanian socialist party militants await the announcement of the results of the local elections of 8 May. A sizeable police cordon ranged in front of them protects the building where, for the umpteenth time, ballot papers are being counted and recounted. Things seem to have reached an impasse

by sladana perkovic @ // 29/06/11

civil society, economical crisis, tirana, corruption, youth, albania, european union

Indignant us: revolutions of a wise movement

Was it a prelude to an uprising or a flash in the pan? Since the '15-M' movement of 15 May in Spain those lyrical winds of change have swept through Europe. With the support of public opinion the wave has managed to titillate political power and show that the system can work outside of the obsolete institutional organisations. A month on, the Spanish movement has taken on the form of flash protests against unemployment and austerity measures, proving the voice is here to stay (Image: © Uchiuska)

• Read the special edition Indignant us: revolutions of a wise movement
• Go on, say it. It’s the Spanish spring
• 'Real democracy NOW!': #spanishrevolution becomes #europeanrevolution
• 'Indignant ones': left-wing populism or politics of the underdog?
• Pan-European indignant revolution viewed from Brussels

My Zagreb Vitriol: remembering Croatia’s anti-government protests

As France, the UK and the Netherlands keep the country at arm’s length, the fact is that its almost six-year candidacy to the European union is almost complete in 2011. Anti-government protests against corruption and political incompetence marked the Croatian capital in February, and cafebabel.com sampled the ongoing street passions in March

by Matthieu Amaré @ // 31/05/11

civil society, egypt, zagreb, youth, croatia, revolution, orient express

Rome was not built in a day...nor for bikes

I am a devout cyclist who first rode a bike by chance. I come from Strasbourg in eastern France, a city in which the two wheels reign supreme, so I did all I could to get hold of a bike in Rome. 'It’s suicidal!' those around me squealed, but after four days alone in a city dominated by cars, I realised that cycling can also look like a kamikaze mission

by Tania Gisselbrecht @ // 12/04/11

civil society, italy, green europe on the ground, best of cafebabel.com, rome, bicycle, bike

Spain local elections in May 2011: indignant movement starts

On 22 May the Spaniards go to the polls to choose the future politicians of their autonomous communities and town halls. It's a key moment before general elections in 2012, but the government's management of the crisis and the recent passing of the Sinde piracy law has roused rebels and protestors, who are locking down over the internet. Perspective

by Cristina Cartes @ // 29/03/11

civil society, josé luis rodríguez zapatero, economical crisis, economy, mariano rajoy, politics, spain

Chomutov, Czech Republic: fighting prostitution with posters

Women wave in short dresses on posters at the main roads, created by Simona Kmonickova, who lives near the red-light district. Cross bones represent sexually transmitted diseases. The border to Sachsen isn’t far; most sex clients come from there, but despite the warning publicity, the problem has localised

by n- ost @ // 13/01/11

civil society, health, germany, europe, public health, czech republic, security

World's tallest jesus and crossing out secularism in Poland

Every country has its own vision of secularism.In late November, a 51-metre Jesus Christ statue was erected in western Poland, 14 metres taller than its colleague in Rio de Janeiro. Though privately funded, the Polish state is still looking for that perfect balance between sacrum and profanum in the public domain - takes its various crossings with the cross

by Matthieu Stankowski @ // 06/12/10

civil society, warsaw, secularity, religion, jaroslaw kaczynski, poland, lech kaczynski

December Belarus elections: protests as absurd as the president

In a bimonthly series, one Frenchwoman in Berlin discusses the latest ludicrousness from Lukashenko land. Post three: the absurd forms of Belarusian protests

by Claudine Delacroix @ // 23/11/10

civil society, protest, belarus, minsk, alexander lukashenko, politics

Cinema horror in Europe: happy yucky Halloween

In light of the ‘love-it-or-hate-it’ upcoming Halloween on 31 October, we propose three of Europe’s best horror movies at the moment from Serbia, France and Holland, with a running commentary from Franco Calandrini, director of the Ravenna nightmare film festival

by Marco Riciputi @ // 27/10/10

civil society, cinema, netherlands, europe, culture, serbia, france