Introduction

Employment & Global Equality

Contemporary social change is characterised by a change in the age structure of our society as well as by changes concerning life styles, relationships and gender relations. Sustained high unemployment rates have meant that the idea of full employment has become a remote possibility. At the same time this has refocused the debate on the crises of the wage economy and the adverse effects it has on systems of social security. Thus current problems do also give scope to the development of new concepts of work – of work beyond a salaried economy.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation looks at alternatives to the West-German model of a salaried, male, full-time job economy. At conferences and in publications we compare national models of employment and social policy, discuss life and work styles beyond the market or state, and discuss the potential of employment in the non-profit sector, the dynamics of shadow economies, moonlighting, job creation schemes, work migration and bogus self-employment. Presently we focus on the question, if – or how – new concepts of work can go together with global equality.

The European welfare state or the welfare states of the European Union?

August 8, 2012 - Does the European Union (EU) safeguard the future of the welfare state in times of globalisation? Is the crisis intensifying the pressure to take action and could it even ultimately lead to more social policy integration – a European welfare state?  Uwe Puetter more»

European social policy: Urgent need for clarification

- August 8, 2012 - Europe unilaterally imposes austerity measures without drawing a line to define minimum social standards. The result is that social achievements are being dismantled overnight. Now the call for a more socially oriented Europe has become louder. We have to make social security systems more European.  Annalena Baerbock, Anna Cavazzini more»

Four Years after the World Food Price Crisis: The Governance of World Food Security

- October 14, 2011 - The 2007–2008 world food price crisis caused political and economical instability and social unrest in both poor and developed nations. This was only the latest example for a functioning food system being an indispensable pillar of a stable economy and a society capable of reproducing itself. A new study outlines steps how the intergovernmental Committee on World Food Security could be expanded towards a politically relevant international steering committee. Nora McKeon more»

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Opinion

Israeli Social Protests: The Key To Changing Everything?

- August 15, 2011 -

For the first few weeks of the social protests in Israel the press happily dismissed everything else – Palestinians, Iran, September, democracy barely reached back pages of the papers. The question at stake is, will the movement ultimately be forced by its own goals to confront and possibly re-interpret critical issues such in light of the newfound empowerment and social consciousness?

Dahlia Scheindlin more»

Protests for Social Justice: A Green New Deal for Israel?

- August 17, 2011 - During the ongoing housing protests in Israel, the Green Movement just released the first draft of a Green New Deal. Two chairpersons of the Green Movement link their economic plan with the currrent protests for social justice. Alon Tal and Racheli Tedhar Kener more»

• Israeli Social Protests: The Key To Changing Everything? - Dahlia Scheindlin
• Housing Protests: The Israeli Summer - Noah Efron

Europe and the American Dream

- November 17, 2010 -

It is particularly difficult to attain higher social status in Germany. Why is that, how should we tackle the issue and how the german situation differs from the situation in North America? At a conference organised by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung several experts and politicians tried to find answers to these questions.

By Naomi Buck more»

Transition Towns: Initiatives of Transformation

April 18, 2013 - Today there are more than 500 “official” Transition Town initiatives in more than 38 countries, and several thousand more are in the process of formation in many cities, towns and regions across the world. But what is it that makes the Transition model so attractive for so many extremely different people and cultures? Gerd Wessling more»

Share or Die – A Challenge for Our Times

- April 17, 2013 - In the past, we tended to see cities as dirty, unnatural, and isolating places; today, citizens and urban planners alike are starting to see their potential for generating widespread well-being at low financial and environmental cost. People want the streets to make room for pedestrians and bicyclists, and for civic engagement and for sharing.  Neal Gorenflo more»

Publication series on ecology, Volume 5

Urban Futures 2030

- January 28, 2011 - Cities are home to half of humanity. Dealing with climate change will mean taking a critical look at our building work, and it is no coincidence that “greening the city” is the new trend. The experts contributing to this volume give insight into the answers that future-oriented urban planning and architecture must deliver.  more»

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Dossier

Commons

The commons is about reclaiming, sharing and self-governing resources that belong to everyone. As a form of governance it is defending traditional or building new systems for managing our resources, based on the principles of equity and sustainability. The commons is a practical means for re-inventing society in ways that markets and governments are unable or unwilling to entertain. more»