_Future of the progressive Centre-Left

Equality – a progressive idea for our times

British epidemiologists Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett have revitalised the debate on equality in their book “The Spirit Level - Why Equality is Better for Everyone”. Das Progressive Zentrum intensively involves in this discussion with own contributions. Furthermore, we have scheduled an event with Kate Pickett and several politicians on 25 October 2010. more

The online debate "Social Democracy in Times of Fear" on Tony Judt´s "Ill fares the land"

In the course of the last months, Tony Judt, a well-known British social scientist has published some inspiring theses on the future of the Centre-Left. Following a long illness, Judt passed away on August 7th 2010. Over the next months we will, in cooperation with the Wiardi Bechman Foundation and the Berliner Republik, publish controversial articles referring to the issues raised by Judt. Tobias Dürr’s commentary "Progress in an age of fear?" started off the debate. We invite you to share your thoughts on the articles with us by participating in the debate in our Progressive Forum. more

A cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation

Together with the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, das Progressive Zentrum examines the major implications of progressive politics. Our kick-off workshop on May 20th 2010 headed “Beyond the Third Way – Future Politics Today” gathered a panel of experts from politics, academics, and journalism. 

This successful start leads us to deal with further pressing questions of our time: In autumn 2010 we will discuss the political leeway of responsible fiscal and financial politics. The first half of 2011 will be dedicated to future social policies in the sense of social investment states as well as to sustainable growth-strategies for ecological modernisation. Before the summer break we will analyse the challenges Germany is facing as a political player acting in favour of security in Afghanistan and elsewhere. more

Project Centre-Left – a cooperation with „Der Freitag“

Following the federal elections in 2009, Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Left are caught up in a discussion about necessary preconditions for the formation of a coalition of three. Yet das Progressive Zentrum believes that a substantial debate on the means and goals of progress-oriented politics has to come first. (In order to do so “Der Freitag” and das Progressive Zentrum have launched an online debate forum - Projekt Linke Mitte – dealing with contents, challenges and perspectives of the Centre- Left in Germany and Europe. We invite you to read and actively comment our texts either through blog entries or your personal articles.

_The Progressive Forum

The Progressive Forum is our contribution to overcome Germany's lack of platforms where short and precise, intellectually sophisticated articles and essays are being published and discussed.

We hope to attract many participants to political and academic discussions on our website. To nourish these we will continuously publish contributions from journalists, politicians, economists and other progressive minds. Additionally we hope to close the gap to progressive debates on the international stage by linking to their platforms and inviting their key participants.

Is Germany moving towards a Grand Coalition?

25 October 2011. Many German voters favour a coalition of conservatives and social democrats, as disagreement and infighting dampens enthusiasm for a “red-green” alliance. more

Eurozone blues

20 September 2011 In the Netherlands and Germany the left is propping up governing coalitions on the right in support of the eurozone. But are they getting a good deal in light of ongoing right-wing austerity politics? more

Berlin success inspires quiet confidence

20 September 2011_ There is growing confidence in the SPD, but this will have to be matched by a serious policy programme if the party is to win federal elections in 2013. more

The old SPD urgently neeeds new political energy

07 June 2011_Michael Miebach argues for the party reform of the German Social Democrats.The SPD is hemorrhaging both votes and members to new political actors, yet proposed reforms to a party with an average member age of almost 60 are being met with vehement opposition.more

Green success marks SPD failure

08 May 2011_Michael Miebach analyizes the elections in some German federal states. The significant fall of Merkel's CDU in Baden-Württemberg marked a resounding success for the Green party. How should the SPD respond to this political shift? more

What does Hamburg mean for the SPD?

12 March 2011_Michael Miebach points out that a strong economic platform delivered a resounding victory for the SPD’s Olaf Scholz in Hamburg. Desperately trying to win back frustrated voters from the left looks futile. more

_Events

International Conference: Partnership for European Progress - Which growth for Europe?

On December, 14 2010, from 9 am to 5 pm das Progressive Zentrum in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office of Germany holds an international conference on the premises of Commerzbank AG at Pariser Platz 1 in Berlin. By continuing our project on the future of the European economic and social model we will once again we bring together experts from Eastern and Western Europe. Framed by the headline question “Which growth for Europe” the agenda will focus on the economic, social and political challenges and chances for the new and old EU-member states. more

_Publications

Communication in Times of Crisis – A Systematic Comparison of Political Communication

The global economic and financial crisis touched all EU-member states to the quick. Das Progressive Zentrum examines the actions taken by the governments of Great-Britain, Spain, Austria and the Netherlands in order to contain the crisis. A special focus is put on how the Governments communicated their anti-crisis policies in the public. more