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Rising unemployment and social exclusion in many countries make it very unlikely that current levels of protection for the unemployed will be sustained in the near future unless there is a change in Europe’s economic policy. Although the European Commission emphasizes the need to reduce poverty and social exclusion, it does not propose actions to reduce...
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In addition to the straitjacket in which it finds itself in the Eurozone, the French social model is too socialist in structure. While it might work in times of plenty, it leaves very little room for manoeuvre for the leaders in times of adversity. Hollande’s plans are neither robust nor coherent, nor brutal enough...
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Corruption involves the abuse of a trust, which is the use of public power for private personal benefit. This often emerges in the form of monies and power, which to a degree can be considered as being not dissimilar. In rapidly changing societies the line separating the two is blurred; and the term “corruption”...
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Constitutional change, if thoughtful and radical, is not irrelevant. It can support a more genuinely democratic and efficient governance system, which reflects both independent expert opinion and a better informed popular will. Whether or not the UK opts for either major or, more likely, minor constitutional change is still not clear. The need to...
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The first obstacle that François Hollande will face is the hypocrisy of some of his fellow heads of government at the European Councils and summits. His victory at the polls in France has agitated and unsettled most European governments. For the first time, someone actually dares to challenge Germany’s uncontested hegemony. ...
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There seems to be some correlation between “bad” governance, lack of accountability and democracy, and the need for foreign (and humanitarian) aid. Unfortunately, the official aid agencies do not know how to change ‘bad’ governments into ‘good’ governments with the apparatus of foreign aid. ‘Bad’ government has far deeper roots than anything the...
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Some Notes & Comments