welfare state

Europe vs the US: seven reflections

It’s been a year since Barack Obama was inaugurated president of the United States on 20 January. But despite his inspiring speeches, he is no Franklin Roosevelt, and even if he were, he needs 60 out of 100 votes in the US Senate to pass anything. Since the end of world war two, a power has emerged with the real potential to carry the world forward

by steven hill // 26/01/10 - 5 Comment - 13 votes

welfare state, flexicurity, comparison, barack obama, united states, book review, economical crisis

Cities: Clermont-Ferrand boils

Nestled in the centre of France, the 'Michelin city' is darkened by its volcanic hinterland. Protests against the Bologna education reforms - brought in by Europe - simmer within, whilst protests against Brussels’ liberalism spew from young farmers of the Auvergne region. Would the socialists have a solution? After all, they have been in power in the city since the second world war. The reform seismometer may just erupt at the European elections in June 2009. After Tallinn and Paris, four journalists and one photographer from our network explore the third stop in cafebabel.com's monthly 'cities' mission, 'EUdebate on the Ground'

• Education: Bologna process, sales time in French universities
• HandiCAP: freedom-hunting French farmers, as European as Parisians
• Clermont-Ferrand – where are the right-wing?
• Michelin manufacturing ‘malady’: is recession causing flat tyres in France?
• Photos: hanging out with four Roma communities in the French Auvergne

America: five eurosceptic myths about sick old EU

With the stock market jittery over Iraq, the housing crisis and huge trade deficits, investors are wringing their hands about the US economy. Chinese and Indian economies roar, but what about Europe on the eve of the EU-US summit in Slovenia on 9-10 June

by Steven Hill @ // 05/06/08 - 1 Comment

welfare state, ecology, myth, united states, us elections, eurosceptic, unemployment

Eco-suburbs: Vauban, Freiburg

The district in south-west Germany is a pioneering development that puts into action innovative rules for communal living in a unique environment. But this paradise of purity is not without its faults

by léna morel // 17/01/08 - 1 Comment

welfare state, bioethics, future of europe, germany, green parties, economy, housing