Why are French people striking (again)?

Nowadays, strikes in France are all over European and International discourses: it is present in the news and has become a common meme on some social media. However, whether it is through discussions I had with Euroculture students or by reading the news, I observed a massive gap between what is happening and how it is portrayed. Contrary to what is being said, people are not only angry because they will have to work more. There is indeed a special relationship between France and protests which is historically and politically rooted. The strike is the main mode of action for French people. And what is happening now goes beyond a refusal to work. It is about protecting social rights and maintaining discourses between a Republic and its citizens in a democratic country. This article will provide a historical overview of the evolution of the Right to Strike in France before diving into the current French turmoil.

Visa-liberalisation for Kosovo: the EU barely hears the voice of the citizens from the state-border cage in the Western Balkans

Despite its strategic position, Kosovo seems to live in a state border cage. The solution to this geographical isolation can be solved through visa liberalisation by the EU institution. Although it has been discussed for a long time, EU institutions do not seem to be fully responsive to the problem, especially considering the obstructive position of some even influential member states. The present article aims at unpacking the current situation of the visa liberalisation process, shedding light on the actual steps taken by the country to meet the criteria established by the EU and the negotiations and developments within the EU institution on the issue. Lifting those restrictions of movement could not only make life easier for the citizens but also bring Kosovo closer to the European Union.

Red Card for Homophobia and Homosexually-Themed Language in Football

It hasn’t been an uncommon practice in the sports’ history to use homosexually themed language between athletes and sports fans, either as a joke or as an outright insult. What could be the consequences of this, not only for sporting but for society in general? Gian Paulo Palinawan gives a critical perspective on this increasingly contested language and proposes its definite expulsion from sports.

Let’s stop speaking about young people, and actually start listening to them  

Young people are reminded every day that they are the future, that they need to take action. Yet, there is a double standard when it comes to either representing the topics of young people in the media, or the importance given to them by politicians. Instead of letting young people act, the older generation seems to be relegating the responsibility to the future generation.