Jean-Michel Severino | Global Policy

Liebe Leser,

für das Global Policy Journal der London School of Economics habe ich ein Video-Interview mit Jean-Michel Severino durchgeführt. Im Gespräch diskutieren wir die Rolle internationaler Organisationen und privatwirtschaftlicher Akteure bei der Lösung globaler Wirtschafts- und Finanzkrisen. Eine besonders markante Aussage Severinos im Interview: Rating-Agenturen seien heute mächtiger als viele Staats- und Regierungschefs.

Severino ist ehemaliger Chef der Agence Française de Développement (AFD), der französischen Durchführungsorganisation für Entwicklingszusammenarbeit. Aktuell arbeitet er als General Inspector of Finances im französischen Finanzministerium. Viele Jahre seiner Karriere hat er in Führungspositionen bei der Weltbank verbracht.

Das gesamte Interview finden Sie hier: www.globalpolicyjournal.com/videos/jean-michel-severino.

Viele Grüße
Julian Kirchherr

Book Review: The Psychology of Politicians by Ashley Weinberg

Dieser Beitrag entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit British Politics and Policy at LSE.

Based on research with politicians from the UK, Poland and Italy, this collection of essays hopes to offer new psychological insights into what makes our leaders tick. Suitable for students of political psychology and those looking for a broad introduction to the field, Julian Kirchherr feels that the book does lack an overall coherence and many conclusions are less than ground breaking.

The Psychology of Politicians. Ashley Weinberg. Cambridge University Press. 248 pages. January 2012.

What drives politicians? Do all politicians have similar personality traits? How does the stress of politics affect those at the heart of it all? Ashley Weinberg, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Salford, explores these questions in this new collection of essays.

At a time when the public have access to almost constant news coverage of politicians and policy decisions, Weinberg’s collection attempts to satisfy the growing demand for knowledge about political figures. Having researched political psychology for more than two decades, the author believes that the “human factor” is a main influence in driving interest in politics. With political, financial, and environmental instability facing so many countries, it is easy to understand the surge in interest about what makes national leaders tick. We all need leaders who are fit to govern; the success or downfall of nations depends on it.

“Spain Risks Political Upheaval“ | Libertas

Dieser Beitrag entstand für Libertas, das Mitgliedermagazin der European Liberal Youth (LYMEC).

Graham Watson: Graham Watson has served as a Member of the European Parliament for South West England since 1994. He was the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) between 2002 and 2009 and he was the first British Liberal Democrat ever to be elected to the European Parliament. Born in Rothesay, Scotland, in 1956, Graham pursued a degree in Modern Languages at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. He is a qualified interpreter who speaks four European languages.

Graham, have you ever been unemployed?

Watson: Luckily not. But two of my brothers and one of my sisters experienced periods of unemployment. It was awful.

What is so important about jobs?

Watson: Work is fundamental to giving people dignity. Work gives people status. It allows them to develop themselves properly.

Why is youth unemployment such a huge problem in Europe these days, Graham?

Watson: Many countries in Western Europe have pursued policies which favoured those in work keeping their jobs at the expense of those who are not in work. It is a strange sort of protectionism in the workforce. Fortunately, in the United Kingdom youth unemployment is much less of a problem than it is on the continent. We have not followed those policies with the result that youth unemployment is lower.

At our autumn congress, the European Liberal Youth discussed a resolution calling for higher education to be based on the demands of the labour market. Is this necessary for reducing youth unemployment?

Watson: I studied languages. Not quite what the labour market demands, many people would say. But I have never had a problem finding a job. I think we have to be very careful here. There is the danger that if all of your university degrees are vocational that you will lose the diversity of thoughts. That is why there is a benefit in allowing people to study classical literature, if that is what they wish to do.

What can the European Parliament do to create jobs for the young?

Watson: I believe investment in infrastructure is crucial. The European Union will be spending about 35 billion Euros in the next five years on public transport, for instance. Another ten billion Euros will be invested in the development of super-fast broadband Internet. This allows people to get their products and services to the market. We will be spending another ten billion Euros on energy distribution networks and this will lead to a rapid take-off of renewable energies which will create many jobs. Green growth is a huge opportunity. One of my brothers who was out of work is actually now running a company that installs solar panels.

What do you think will happen if youth unemployment is not tackled rapidly?

Watson: All of history has taught us that if you have large number of people unemployed for a long time then you risk political upheaval. This is a danger for countries such as Spain.

Any feedback? E-mail me: julian.kirchherr@lymec.eu!

Die ganze Ausgabe des Magazins kann hier gedownloadet werden.

Libertas: Youth Unemployment in Europe

Liebe Leser,

seit Oktober 2011 leite ich Libertas, das Mitgliedermagazin der European Liberal Youth (LYMEC). Die erste Ausgabe im neuen Jahr befasst sich mit Jugendarbeitslosigkeit in Europa und kann hier gedownloadet werden.

Ich freue mich auf Ihre Rückmeldungen dazu!

Viele Grüße
Julian Kirchherr

Five Minutes with Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission: “A single set of data-protection rules across Europe will give citizens additional confidence to go online, and save businesses 23 billion Euros in ten years”.

Dieser Beitrag entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit Chris Gilson und LSE EUROPP.

Does a single market need just one data-protection regime? With current controversies about privacy rules running very hot, Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission explains why its recent proposal to change the existing rules (now two decades old) can benefit citizens and enterprises alike.

Is there really a need for stronger data protection laws for European citizens, given that many already give away their private data for free, for example on social media sites?

Uploading photos or updating friends on what you are up to on a social network is an everyday activity for most people these days. Data travels around the globe instantly and is stored beyond borders in the cloud. But people are not always sure what happens to their data, where it goes or how it is processed. In a recent opinion poll, 72 per cent of people across the EU said they were concerned about how companies deal with their data.

Personal data is the currency of today’s modern digital market. Like any currency, it needs stability and trust. Only if consumers can ‘trust’ that their data is well protected, will they continue to entrust businesses and authorities with it, buy online and accept new services. That is why we are proposing new rules so they can control their own data. Reliable, consistently applied rules make data processing safer, cheaper and inspire users’ confidence – all of which serves to boost innovation and competitiveness.

Protection of personal data is a fundamental right in the EU, and people want to know their data is secure. Our aim is to put people in control of their own data – so they can access it, move it or delete it if they want to. This includes the right to be forgotten. We want to explicitly clarify that people shall have the right – and not only the ‘possibility’ – to withdraw the consent they have given out themselves to the processing of their personal data.

People should also be swiftly informed if their personal data is lost, stolen or hacked. Companies and organisations will have to inform the data protection authorities and the people concerned without undue delay. As a general rule, for me that means ‘within 24 hours’.