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Macaristan'da Referandumlar: Onay Önyargısı
The article argues that under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, referendums in Hungary have been repurposed to serve party interests and propagate anti-EU and anti-migrant narratives. It highlights the 2016 refugee referendum as a symbolic tool of propaganda and describes how the government obstructs opposition-led initiatives, such as those by the Socialist Party and the Momentum Movement. Additionally, the text details the use of 'national consultation surveys'—unregulated, state-funded polls sent to millions of households—to legitimize government policies through leading questions and strategic results.
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Document type: Research paper
İsviçre ‘emsalsiz bir genç demokraside’ referandumlar
The text analyzes the Swiss system of direct democracy, detailing the processes for constitutional amendments through popular initiatives and optional referendums. It highlights the historical milestone of granting women federal voting rights in 1971 and discusses the influence of non-parliamentary forces and financial opacity in modern campaigns. The author concludes by questioning whether the Swiss model of creating citizenship through direct democracy could serve as a model for strengthening European citizenship.
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Document type: Research paper
İtalya'da Referandumlar: Kontrollü Koşullarda Doğrudan Demokrasi
The document analyzes the use of referendums in Italy, contrasting their potential for progressive social change with the risks of authoritarianism and the limitations of the current constitutional framework. It highlights specific cases, such as the 1974 divorce referendum and the 2020 constitutional referendum on reducing parliament members, to argue that referendums alone cannot ensure inclusive democracy without accompanying social justice and inclusivity.
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Document type: Research paper
Kalter Wind von Rechts: Wie rechte Parteien und Akteur:innen die Klimakrise zu ihren Gunsten missbrauchen
The report analyzes how right-wing actors, particularly the AfD, leveraged the 2021 German federal election to spread climate disinformation. Based on monitoring of Facebook and Twitter from August 8 to October 3, 2021, the study found that the AfD's climate-related posts achieved significantly higher engagement than its other content and those of opposing parties. The analysis identifies a strategy of framing climate protection as a 'culture war' and a threat to lifestyles, utilizing 'denial and delay' narratives that were shared over 135,000 times. It also notes a platform divide, with positive climate messages dominating Twitter while negative narratives prevailed on Facebook.
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Document type: Report
Retournement de situation
The text examines the global decline of trust in democracy, linking it to economic inequality, technological shifts, and social transformation. It positions Green politics as a solution to this crisis through the promotion of active citizenship, the creation of a socially just and sustainable vision of prosperity to replace fossil-fuel-based social democracy, and the democratic reform of the European Union.
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Document type: Statement
Les référendums à Malte sous une ombre postcoloniale
Since 2003, Malta has held three referendums—on EU membership (2003), divorce (2011), and spring hunting (2015)—which the author argues are shaped by a persistent bipartisan political structure and a conflict between 'eurocentric' liberal values and 'authentic' national identity. The 2003 EU vote saw high participation (nearly 91%) but low support (54%), while the 2011 divorce vote (53.2% 'yes') signaled a decline in the Catholic Church's social influence. The 2015 spring hunting referendum highlighted a clash between environmental conservation and national pride, with the latter used by the government to deflect international scrutiny over corruption and the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
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Document type: Research paper
Le parti Vox d’Espagne : la montée en puissance du populisme environnemental international
The author argues that right-wing populist parties in Europe are replacing outright climate denial with a 'green patriotism' that frames environmental protection as a nationalist and identitarian project. Using the Spanish party Vox and the French Rassemblement National (RN) as primary examples, the text describes how these parties reject 'globalist' climate policies and international cooperation in favor of national energy autarky, localism, and the preservation of national 'natural heritage'. This shift is presented as a strategic move to appeal to working-class voters and a way to integrate environmental concerns into a broader civilizational conflict between nationalist and globalist worldviews.
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Document type: Research paper
The Romanian Protest Wave: A Path to a New Political Era
The document traces a series of Romanian protest waves, starting with the 2013 Rosia Montana anti-mining movement and the 2015 Colectiv nightclub fire protests, which challenged government corruption and systemic failures. It argues that these movements helped citizens overcome a historical fear of state repression dating back to the 1990-1991 Mineriade, eventually leading to the rise of centre-right parties like USR and PLUS. The author notes that while these new parties adopted some green policies, the formal Green party in Romania remains weak due to the continued dominance of the Social Democrats (PSD) and internal organizational issues.
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Document type: Research paper
Will the DRC’s ‘sacred union’ deliver electoral reform?
The report examines the political shift in the DRC following President Felix Tshisekedi's creation of the 'sacred union' coalition, which granted him a parliamentary majority. While this shift provides an opportunity for electoral reform and improved security in the east, the document highlights significant tensions over the content of these reforms, the independence of the electoral commission (CENI), and whether a proposed population census is a genuine development need or a strategy to delay the 2023 elections.
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Document type: Report
A Cliffhanger for LGBT Rights in Estonia
The text traces the evolution of Estonia's LGBT+ movement from the 1990s to 2021, highlighting the 2014 Registered Partnership Act and its subsequent failure to be fully implemented. It details the hostile environment created by the EKRE party during its time in government, including a proposed referendum to define marriage strictly as between a man and a woman. While the collapse of the coalition in January 2021 cancelled the referendum, the authors argue that the new government's refusal to change the definition of marriage in the Family Law Act indicates a continuing reluctance to achieve full marriage equality.
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Document type: Research paper
A State of Disrepair: Democracy in the United Kingdom
The author contends that the UK government is utilizing a 'Trump-style core vote strategy' to distract from pandemic failures and sustain the Leave coalition. This approach involves criminalizing protest, targeting minority groups such as Gypsy and Traveller communities, and undermining the rule of law and media independence. The text describes a breakdown of the 'good chap' model of governance, replaced by high-level cronyism and neoliberal failure. The author advocates for a positive alternative vision based on a just transition to a carbon-neutral society, proportional representation, and a move away from centralism.
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Document type: Statement
Malta: Referendums under a postcolonial shadow
Since 2003, Malta has held three referendums on EU membership, divorce, and spring hunting, all of which highlighted a socio-political divide between those seeking alignment with European liberal democracies and those emphasizing national sovereignty and tradition. The author argues that Malta's bipartisan political landscape, characterized by the Labour Party (PL) and the Nationalist Party (PN), often leads voters to align with party stances rather than the specific issues. The 2003 EU membership vote saw a 54% approval rate, the lowest among nine participating countries. The 2011 divorce referendum, passed with 53.2% support, signaled a decline in the Catholic Church's influence. The 2015 spring hunting referendum became a proxy for national pride, with supporters of the practice viewing it as a mark of authenticity against foreign pressure.
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Document type: Research paper
Congressional Climate Camps
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) hosted a 'Congressional Climate Camp' briefing series to provide legislative and political context for U.S. climate policy. The series featured experts discussing historical turning points in federal climate policy, the role of advocacy and stakeholder engagement, the impact of political polarization on compromise, and the interaction between the legislative and executive branches in producing major bills.
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Document type: Briefing
Civil society must be at the heart of a renewed transatlantic solidarity
The author contends that the Biden-Harris administration provides an opportunity to reboot transatlantic relations by integrating diverse civil society movements—such as those focused on climate, racial justice, and gender equality—into the political discourse. The text argues that the previous focus on a common security policy is obsolete and should be replaced by a narrative of democratic resilience and inclusivity. It highlights the role of grassroots networks and regional initiatives, such as the 'We Are Still In' and 'Under2Coalition' alliances, as models for strengthening solidarity. The document concludes that achieving a 'build back better' transatlantic relationship requires structural and financial support for civil society and the implementation of joint regulations on hate speech and disinformation.
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Document type: Statement
Cameroon’s authoritarianism fuels its Anglophone separatist war
The research paper examines the Anglophone separatist conflict in Cameroon, tracing its origins to long-standing grievances over marginalisation and 'Francophonisation'. It asserts that the escalation into civil war was triggered by the violent repression of peaceful protests in 2017 and is sustained by President Paul Biya's insistence on a military solution over political accountability. The author highlights the humanitarian toll, including over 3,000 deaths and 750,000 internally displaced persons, and calls for a joint UN and African Union framework to negotiate reforms regarding Anglophone autonomy and resource management.
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Document type: Research paper
Breaking Hard Earth: A Social History of Green Politics in Poland
The author traces the trajectory of Polish green politics, noting an initial wave of activism in the 1980s that faded during the post-1989 transition due to economic hardship and a pro-modernization discourse. After a period of political marginalization and the formation of the Green party (Zieloni) in 2004, green issues gained traction as a field of political contestation under the Law and Justice (PiS) government. By 2019, green politics achieved a breakthrough, with the Greens entering parliament as part of a coalition with Civic Platform (PO), though this raises concerns about potential ideological assimilation and greenwashing.
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Document type: Research paper
Capital versus Biosphere: An Eco-Social Agenda Fit for the Times
The document argues that the 21st century is defined by a conflict between capital and the biosphere, exacerbated by the Anthropocene and mass species extinction. It proposes a post-pandemic recovery for Europe based on three pillars: protecting biodiversity to ensure human health, valuing the local through the care economy and localized supply chains, and accelerating an energy transition to reduce dependence and redistribute wealth. The author emphasizes that sustainability requires a change in the social model and a shift from a culture of vehicle ownership to shared services, while warning against 'greenwashed' solutions and austerity.
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Document type: Statement
Pandemic as Campaign Stage: On Trump’s Handling of Covid-19 in the United States
The author argues that Donald Trump pursued a 'herd immunity' approach to Covid-19 not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame public health measures as Democratic-led attacks on the working class and small business owners. By dismissing scientific expertise and associating mask-wearing with weakness, Trump leveraged the pandemic as a campaign tool to solidify support among his base, particularly the less-educated petite bourgeoisie, by presenting a choice between public health and employment.
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Document type: Research paper
Dismantling the Environmental State: Actors, Strategies and Discourses Behind the Bolsonaro Attack on the National Environmental Regulation
The document details how the Bolsonaro administration has systematically weakened Brazil's environmental state through institutional budget cuts, the exclusion of civil society from policy-making bodies like CONAMA, and the use of infra-legal decrees to bypass congressional scrutiny. It argues that these actions are driven by a coalition of agribusiness and mining interests seeking to expand into biomes such as the Amazon, Pantanal, and Cerrado. The authors highlight the fragility of environmental protections that rely on administrative decisions rather than legislative law and call for the establishment of more resilient protective mechanisms to prevent future reactionary attacks.
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Document type: Briefing
What now that President Tshisekedi has taken control?
President Felix Tshisekedi has effectively seized control of the Democratic Republic of Congo by neutralizing political rivals and dismantling the ruling coalition with Joseph Kabila's FCC. Key moves included removing the head of Gecamines, appointing new constitutional court judges to erode Kabila's influence, and orchestrating the removal of the National Assembly's leadership to form a new parliamentary majority. While this marks a shift in power, the author argues that the future of the DRC depends on whether Tshisekedi moves beyond elite power politics toward good governance, accountability, and economic development.
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Document type: Research paper