Editorial
Dear friends and colleagues,
With the upcoming elections for the European Parliament, in the U.S. and in the UK, as well as in three German federal states, progressives face a series of electoral tests. The polls suggest that these elections will be serious challenges. But there is much to build on, as the recent victory of a democratic alliance in Poland or the renewal of a mandate for progressive politics in Spain demonstrate.
Our recently published study Actually European!?, based on a public opinion poll in Germany, shows that there is a great interest in the elections for the European Parliament this June, especially among pro-European voters. Progressives should build on this and create momentum by highlighting the European Union’s benefits and bringing forward European solutions on the economy, migration, international conflicts and the future of the union.
In the U.S., the presidential campaign is already in full swing. With a tight race between President Biden and his predecessor on the horizon, the election will be decided in swing states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan – states with traditional industrial heartlands. Ahead of the election, a group of fellows from the Transatlantic Dialogue on the Industrial Heartlands project will tour the U.S. heartlands to develop policy recommendations for a better, greener and more democratic future in the industrial heartlands.
On a recent trip to Sweden, we devised strategies on how to counter the far-right and defeat nationalism with Magdalena Andersson, Leader of the Swedish Opposition, Mikael Damberg, Swedish Shadow Minister of Finance, and 40 progressive decision makers and thinkers. One of the key takeaways is that progressive politics must prioritise on security and addressing peoples’ hard-felt anxieties on the economy, climate, inequality and military threats. At the upcoming Progressive Governance Summit on 21-22 June, “Progressive Security” will take centre stage – save the date now!
In progressive spirit,
