On the relationship between parliament and the executive power of the crown (the resolution of the tension there-arising forming the basis of Britain’s constitutional law and its foundation in the idea of ‘constitutional monarchy’) the two legal traditions rest of different bedrocks which enable very different answers to these principal constitutional questions.
Yet again we in Europe find discussion of military action plastered across the papers and broadcast across the continent. Sabre-rattling, to-war-by-jingo-ism is dominating the airwaves.
The European Union is among the most profound achievements of the last century; in many ways, it has changed the face of Europe and its place in the world, from one of violence, strife and oppression, to a beacon of ‘peace…democracy and…prosperity’. By the fin-de-siècle, commentators were hailing the ‘New European Century’ and a ‘beacon of light in a troubled world’. The latter commentator also argued that Europe’s aim was to seek ‘harmony, not hegemony’. This raises a key question, namely, the nature of Europe’s relationship with Imperial power.
We are at a crossroads in Europe; we have long since reached one of those decisive moments in history where we have to make decisions about the direction our societies are going to take, what are the forces which will be driving them and what will be the political context around them. Our commitment to a united Europe is chief among those questions. It is the defining political question of our time.
DiEM25 aims to act as the catalyst of the construction of a broad left coalition able to challenge the rising nationalism in Europe and confront their domination of the media and political landscape – something sorely needed here in Britain.
The PiS government in Warsaw’s assault on liberal democracy has been raging for over a year now, and, while much of Europe has turned its attention away to other news, the fight goes on to stop Poland from taking the road to authoritarianism.
Europe has faced significant challenges last year, and looks to be facing greater ones this year. But what will it take to halt this slide? Surely a return to the status quo cannot be the answer.
If someone asked me today, “do you think Marine Le Pen could win the French presidency next April?”, I would have to say without pause: certainly. After being rocked by Brexit and Trump’s electoral victory, the political centre ground has never looked more vulnerable to the extremes.
Europe is caught between a rock and a hard place, between an unbendingly centrist status quo, and increasingly unpleasant populism. The question remains; is there a way out for constitutional democracy?
Europe has long been a discussion over a Europe of states and Europe of citizens. However the Europe we have today is neither. As Europeans, we will have to make a choice between the two before the forces unleashed by this Europe overwhelms us all.
In Search of Europa 