Blaze Trends’ Post

"Despite backroom deals and trade-offs taking place inside the EP regarding which countries will become EU commissioners, a different political constellation could upset the way things have been done in the past." Growing support for extremist and smaller parties across Europe could change the fundamental composition of the new European Parliament, writes Judy Dempsey, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe and Editor-in-Chief of Strategic Europe. Read the full article on the Accountancy Ireland website: https://brnw.ch/21wJA91 #EuropeanParliament #EuropeanPolitics #EuropeanElections

Nothing changes. Canadian security is a completely amateurish construct, from a to z. There are ‘silos’ of ‘adequacy’ that only compete rather than coordinate and communicate. There is a climate of fear of the rath of politicians and senior bureaucrats. The federal government security framework cannot be taken seriously and is suboptimal. Crisis management is adhoc and too politicized. In fact we have in DND, and likely in other departments, institutionalized adhocery because we lack basic capabilities and depth to be operationally ready.

☝ Check out this thought-provoking piece by Bólya Boglárka on whether technology could pave the way to a more democratic European Union. In the article, Boglárka Bólya explores the challenges facing multi-level governance structures like the EU, where decision-makers can be physically and psychologically distant from citizens. She highlights the need for policymakers to maximize citizen involvement in decision-making and discusses innovative solutions already implemented in some Member States, such as Hungary's National Consultations. The author argues that the EU has room for improvement when it comes to direct representation from European citizens, and technological developments could be key to achieving this. Read on to discover more about the challenges facing the EU and the potential solutions that could make it more democratic. 💡 https://lnkd.in/eCCKt5UJ

I'm pleased to announce the publication of my new book: Moderates of the World, Unite: Reworking the Political Media Complex https://lnkd.in/eHUK2VsQ Available as eBook and paperback. Here is the blurb: The past three decades have seen debilitating changes to public discourse, thanks to media silos, social media, disappearing newsrooms, and an attention economy dominated by partisan propaganda. The age of "cheap speech" has arrived, and the resultant polarization prevents Congress from taking on any real problem-solving. The speech environment today is new and different, and cannot be wished away. What’s lacking is a vision. And the solution must match the scale of the problem. The entire national speech environment must be reformed. This book is both a polemic and a proposal for specific actions. It offers seven detailed, national proposals that have the potential to moderate public discourse and bring down the temperature. From David Foster’s introduction to Moderates of the World, Unite: “It is time to actually do something to solve the polarization problem. Something bold, decisive, and commensurate with the scale of the problem. No more talking about it, no more analyzing or handwringing, no toy projects. No pleas to citizens for civility or truly listening or looking inward. Let’s draft and pass some bills, let’s allocate real money.”

"In the darkest days of the Second World War, when America's very future was at risk, writer E. B. White was asked by the U.S. Federal Government’s Writers’ War Board to write a short response to the question 'What is democracy?' His answer was unassuming but inspiring. He wrote: Surely the Board knows what democracy is. It is the line that forms on the right. It is the 'don’t' in don’t shove. It is the hole in the stuffed shirt through which the sawdust slowly trickles; it is the dent in the high hat. Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time. It is the feeling of privacy in the voting booths, the feeling of communion in the libraries, the feeling of vitality everywhere. Democracy is a letter to the editor. Democracy is the score at the beginning of the ninth. It is an idea which hasn't been disproved yet, a song the words of which have not gone bad. It's the mustard on the hot dog and the cream and the rationed coffee. Democracy is a request from a War Board, in the middle of a morning in the middle of a war, wanting to know what democracy is." From "How Democracies Die," By Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. #2024election #wisdomaryleading #futureofwork #wisdomaryleading

At the heart of China’s political structure stands the National People’s Congress, a fundamental institution that plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s laws, policies, and governance. We provide an exploration of the NPC, shedding light on its structure, functions, and significance. #ChinaIndex #China #NPC #governance #democracy #lawmakers

Europe’s political landscape is changing rapidly, with the dominant trend favoring the radical right   #european_business_review #EBR #european #business #review #news #europe #world

'Transnational European Public Spaces and EU Democracy' by Francesca Martines, Università di Pisa: 'The notion of transnational European public space (...) is that of a mainly virtual space created by EU Commission and Parliament where citizens from all EU Member States have the opportunity to engage in activities that are mostly related to EU decision-making. These spaces are of particular interest when they give EU citizens the opportunity to make their voices heard andpublicly exchange views on all areas of EU action, and when they contribute, albeit in a limited way, to strengthening principles such as transparency, participation and control that are crucial in the democratic life of a polity.' Article refers to the 'Ask EP'-service (https://lnkd.in/eE5Ugcfa) managed by the Citizens' Enquiries Unit in the European Parliamentary Research Service https://lnkd.in/eGz7tydD

The European Parliament's archives are pivotal in bridging the past, present, and future, underlining the essence of historical memory in democratic processes. With over thousands of paper archives and significant digital records, these archives are instrumental in fostering education, public engagement, and cultural awareness. The integration of Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising how we access, categorise, and interact with this vast repository, enhancing transparency and accessibility. This essay explores the EU Parliament's commitment to digitalising its historical assets, ensuring they continue to inform and inspire democratic values in the digital age. Access here: https://lnkd.in/dfiMGiPS