“In the face of a Europe-wide trend towards ‘the normalisation of repression’, where ‘the defence of human rights is increasingly equated to extremism’, it is time, they said, ‘to raise our heads and resist, together’.”
www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Cartoon of two hikers on a coastal path in England looking at a small, caricatured King Charles III hiding in bushes. A sign points to the “King Charles III England Coast Path.” The king whispers, “Please don’t tell anyone I’m here. I’m trying to avoid a trip to the US.”
When even the King is quietly reconsidering the ‘special relationship’…
@bjennings90.bsky.social in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Minna Canth Day, the Day of Equality.
Fitting timing, Finland tops the “happiness” ranking again, meaning life satisfaction: trust, security, and equal freedom to make your own life choices.
Not a luxury, the welfare state is a Nordic USP. A society people trust is one they will defend.
Trump and Netanyahu’s “tough geopolitics” seems to be working out quite well… for Putin.
Ella Baron in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Very interesting elections in Slovenia this week. Refreshing to read a good piece about a country that isn’t one of the usual suspects.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
If it’s really “not political” (as Reform UK claims) and just for money, delivering a Cameo with, say, feminist or environmentalist slogans should be no problem. Somehow I doubt it…
www.theguardian.com/news/video/2...
Ben Jennings on Trump and Hegseth’s premature victory lap energy in the Middle East.
@theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It is interesting to me* how this total military, geopolitical, & economic omnishambles is not being covered in the press with remotely the same fierce EPIC DISASTROUS FAILURE urgency that Joe Biden’s not 100% surgically clean withdrawal from 🇦🇫 was covered 🤔
[*It is not remotely interesting to me]
Im Terrorprozess gegen die Sächsischen Separatisten gibt sich AfDler Kurt Hättasch harmlos. Aber: Bei ihm fand sich NS Literatur, vor Ort baute er einen Szenetreff auf. Und seine Frau ist Miteigentümerin des rechten Haus Montag in Pirna. 💥 Recherche mit @jeanbaeck.bsky.social taz.de/Terrorvorwur...
Dietmar Bartschs Rat an Cem Özdemir zur möglichen Ernennung von Boris Palmer zum Minister: „Ich kann ihm eigentlich nur raten, im Sinne späterer Wahlergebnisse, dass er es nicht macht.“
www.welt.de/vermischtes/...
“This has never been about the contribution of individuals but the underlying principle that was agreed by Parliament over 25 years ago that no-one should sit in our Parliament by way of an inherited title.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Tim Bradford’s Stop The World Cartoon 11 March 2026. For the @thenewworldmag.bsky.social
www.thenewworld.co.uk/tim-bradford...
Ella Baron on Trump’s Iran war predictions, in the @theguardian.com.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“A pro-democracy policy would protect political prisoners and ensure that Israel and the US do not bomb prisons like Evin. It is in those cells where the future democratic leaders of Iran reside.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...
Screenshot of the first page of a research article titled “Current trends, persistent challenges, and emerging opportunities of social policy implementation in Latin America and Southern Europe.” Published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy with authors Ricardo Velázquez Leyer, Viviana Ramírez, Gibrán Cruz-Martínez and Theodoros Papadopoulos.
The blog post is based on an article by Ricardo Velázquez Leyer, Viviana Ramírez, Gibrán Cruz-Martínez, and Theodoros Papadopoulos, published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy (Open Access).
doi.org/10.1017/ics....
New on the Social Policy Blog:
"Insights on Social Policy Implementation from Latin America and Southern Europe" by Ricardo Velázquez Leyer, Viviana Ramírez, Gibrán Cruz-Martínez, and Theodoros Papadopoulos.
socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2026/03/10/i...
As we have repeatedly tried to explain to a government intent on punishing universities, graduate outcomes will always be poor if you underpay every sector. (Nb y axis starting at 50)
Yesterday, those who teach Intro to Sociology at Florida colleges (as opposed to universities) received a ready-made curriculum from the state and were ordered to teach it.
Yes, you read that correctly. The *state* is enforcing a curriculum on college profs, complete w/ the following restrictions:
"We're not like other parties, and I won't tolerate disloyalty," says Farage, as he introduces a cabinet that is 50% disloyal people from another party.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Finland needs more and better integrated immigrants.
Is there any example anywhere where discriminating against migrants in the social welfare system has positively contributed to that effect?
Screenshot of the first page of a Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy article titled “Bottom-of-the-pyramid business model meets social assistance: Repurposing social protection in the Africa context” by Marion Ouma and Jimi O. Adesina, showing the abstract and keywords.
The blog post is based on an article by Marion Ouma and Jimi O. Adesina, published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy (Open Access).
doi.org/10.1017/ics....
New on the Social Policy Blog:
"What Happens When the Bottom of the Pyramid Meets Social Assistance?" by Marion Ouma and Jimi Adesina.
socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2026/02/12/w...
In our hyper-polarized age, Donald Trump can barely get a majority of *his own party* to deny that he is a racist. 46% of Republicans say the term racist describes Trump (5%) or that they have no opinion (41%).
Die Karikatur zeigt Trump und Chameini, die sich freundschaftlich umarmen, vor einer Landschaft mit See und Bergen. Links steht ein bärtiger Mann mit schwarzer Kopfbedeckung und Brille, rechts ein Mann mit blondem Haar, blauem Anzug und roter Krawatte. Beide lächeln und haben die Arme umeinandergelegt. Über ihnen steht in einer Sprechblase: „1. Wir schaffen die Todesstrafe ab, 2. Wir steigen aus der Atomkraft aus, 3. Wir schmeißen alle religiösen Fundis raus!“ Unter dem Bild steht der Titel „Das Wunder von Genf“. Die Zeichnung ist im Stil einer politischen Karikatur gehalten und spielt offenbar satirisch mit politischen Gegensätzen und überraschender Einigkeit.
Guten Morgen!
Screenshot of the first page of an academic journal article by Siena Cardi-Ross and Zahid Mumtaz on Iraq’s hybrid welfare regime, showing the article title, authors, abstract, and keywords
The blog post is based on an article by Siena Caridi-Ross and Zahid Mumtaz, published in the Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy (Open Access).
doi.org/10.1017/ics....
New on the Social Policy Blog:
"Iraq’s Hybrid Welfare Regime: Understanding a Fragmented System of Social Protection" by Siena Caridi-Ross and Zahid Mumtaz.
socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2026/02/10/i...
