Johanna Lutz

Apr 30, 2024 | journalofdemocracy.org | Richard Youngs |Elena Avramovska |Johanna Lutz |Erik Jones

The danger is greater than the rise of far-right parties. In fact, there is a risk that in their eagerness to contain the far right, European leaders may do greater damage to democracy itself. By Richard YoungsApril 2024Elections for all 720 seats in the European Parliament are set for June 6 through 9 of this year. The results may confront democracy with a severe stress test.

Mar 26, 2024 | journalofdemocracy.org | Elena Avramovska |Johanna Lutz |Timothy Edmunds

Aleksandar Vučić is tearing down what remains of Serbian democracy while the West remains silent. Serbia has become a test case for democratic resolve, and the region’s would-be strongmen are taking notice. By Filip MilačićMarch 2024Free but not fair. This describes most Serbian elections since President Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rose to power in 2012. Election day would go smoothly, but the playing field was tilted and the run-up marred by numerous irregularities.

Mar 21, 2024 | socialeurope.eu | Johanna Lutz

Comparing living and working conditions: Germany out-performs the United States This paper compares living and working conditions in the US and Germany for the year 2022 with a focus on economic, social and environmental standards. Emphasis is also placed on income and wealth inequality. Twelve dimensions of comparison are used, split into 15 themes, examined with 80 indicators. Germany comes out ahead on 10 of the themes.

Mar 13, 2023 | ips-journal.eu | Johanna Lutz

Social and political polarisation is increasing everywhere and it is destroying democracy — or so it is widely claimed. This narrative on the destructive force of polarisation, warning of a range of negative social consequences, has come to feature in many editorials and political speeches. In the United States, polarisation has indeed increased in recent years, thanks in part to a majority voting system facilitating the creation of dichotomies.