The Benjamin Franklin Society

16/03/2017

In this week's Atlantic Citizen, Ross Creelman takes a close look at the potentially dramatic consequences of Brexit for Northern Ireland and its relationship with the Republic

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/hard-brexit-hard-border

With Article 50 about to be triggered, the Northern Ireland Assembly in disarray and various nationalist parties calling for separation from the United Kingdom, the question of a hard border betwee…

02/03/2017

In this week's Atlantic Citizen, Margaux Sauvaget dives into the details of French Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon's plan for a universal minimum income. Is it practical? Is it desirable? Have a look!

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/though-attractive-why-a-universal-income-cannot-be-a-desirable-option

On 16 November 2016, one could read on Benoît Hamon’s campaign website that the socialist candidate promised to “create a universal income of €750 for all citizen over 18 giving to each the freedom…

02/03/2017

In this week's Atlantic Citizen, Michele Clari offers an introduction to Benoit Hamon, a disruptive force in French politics and perhaps the furthest left Socialist Party candidate since Francois Mitterand.

Plus, keep an eye out later today for Margaux Sauvaget's analysis of Hamon's plan for a universal guaranteed income

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/benoit-hamon-a-hard-left-presidential-candidate-under-attack

Issued from the left wing of the French Socialist Party, the rebellious attitude of Hamon could be a strong obstacle as he seeks to present himself as the candidate of “rassemblement” -…

02/03/2017

Keep an eye out later today for this week's Atlantic Citizen!
Michele Clari will introduce Benoit Hamon to those who might not know him so well, and Margaux Sauvaget will take a detailed look at Hamon's plan for a universal guaranteed income.

01/02/2017

In this week's Atlantic Citizen, Marco Schito takes up the pen once again, this time to make an argument against the overwhelming emphasis on responsiveness over responsibility in modern popular politics

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/can-parties-still-be-responsible-today

Political parties today often prioritize responsiveness to their constituents over responsibility to long-term commitments – is this a sustainable strategy? -Marco Schito In a paper by the la…

11/01/2017

In this week's issue of the Atlantic Citizen, AC author Max Foppe maps out his view of what is sure to be a surprising year to come.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2017/01/11/uncharted-territory-a-transatlantic-view-of-2017

This year is set to readjust transatlantic relations dramatically- with some obvious and some surprising beneficiaries. -Maximilian Foppe The day that Donald J. Trump will actually become the 45th …

28/12/2016

In the second of this week's two articles, Editor Nicholas Lucas argues that the structural similarities between the uprisings of 1848 and the populist revolts of the present are too significant to ignore, and that engaging in such a comparison may help us to understand and avoid repeating the terrible year that was 2016.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/the-world-turned-upside-down

The events of 2016 constitute the greatest challenge to the neoliberal political order since the fall of the Soviet Union. In my view, the uprisings of 1848 provide an instructive point of comparis…

28/12/2016

In the first of this week's two articles, Bluebook Trainee and ridiculous-number-of-degrees-holder Thomas Kerstens argues that, while the comparison is tempting, the political upheavals of 2016 have little of substance in common with the democratic movements of 1848.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/winter-is-coming

Or, why it is unfortunate how the political events of 2016 do not resemble those of 1848 -Thomas Kerstens As the end of the year draws near, there are many things one would like to forget about; th…

27/12/2016

Good morning wherever you are!
This week, the Atlantic Citizen returns to its regular posting schedule with two pieces examining a possible comparison between this tumultuous past year in Western political life and the great upheavals of 1848.
Editor Nicholas Lucas will argue in favor of the comparison, while Thomas Kerstens (historian, Blue Book trainee, and Sciences Po alum) will argue against. Keep an eye out on Wednesday!

14/12/2016

Two weeks ago “The Atlantic Citizen” hosted Michele Clari's op-ed arguing that politics on both sides of the Atlantic is going mad, and Trump embodies this process. This explosive and admittedly questionable allegation raised few eyebrows; for this reason today’s issue hosts a replying article of Marco Schito aiming at explain people’s vote in and out the US. Enjoy!

Crime, boy, I don’t know! – From individual ignorance to policy ignorance – Marco Schito There is a scene in the television drama The West Wing that sees the President of the United Sta…

24/11/2016

In the ongoing quest to understand Donald Trump's election, co-editor Michele Clari shares his personal views on the flaws inherent in presidential systems and the rising tide of irrationality in modern politics.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/letter-from-the-editor-a-view-from-europe-on-trumps-election

The ship is in the cook’s hands now and the captain’s megaphone doesn’t transmit the route anymore but what we will be eating tomorrow (Soren Kierkegaard) Trump’s election has ushered us into…

15/11/2016

In the second of a pair of articles examining recent upsets in Latin American politics, Charlotte Saurat argues that the current political and economic environment of Latin America is, in this moment, highly favorable to neoliberalism.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/is-latin-america-turning-to-neoliberalism

The rightward shifts that took place in Argentina with the election of Macri in 2015, and in Brazil in 2016 after Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment led to Michel Temer’s interim presidency, signify radi…

15/11/2016

In the first of a pair of articles examining recent upsets in Latin American politics, Morgane Cécile Bartlett argues that the rightward shifts in Argentina and Brazil, though very real, are not indicative of a broader regional trend.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/the-rightward-shifts-in-brazilian-and-argentinian-politics-a-turn-to-the-liberal-right

Brazil and Argentina find themselves in similar economic and political conditions today. Both economies are weak, and center-right leaders have replaced left-wing administrations, whether through u…

10/11/2016

The results of this presidential election, more than any other in recent memory, signal a deep shift in the bedrock of American politics. Here is one citizen's reflection on the results.

(The Argentina and Brazil articles will be published on Monday - we couldn't resist the election's gravity after all)

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/letter-from-the-editor-trump-and-the-way-forward

It is no exaggeration to say that after the events of November 8th and 9th 2016, Americans will need to re-evaluate their understanding of their own country, and of one another. Many of the basic a…

09/11/2016

🇫🇷🇺🇸 The BFS sends her regards from the Carreau du Temple 🇫🇷 🇺🇸
(Hillary was not planned, she asked if she could join us and now she is a Honorary Member)

07/11/2016

Hello all!
As this most enduring and unbearable of American election seasons wraps up, The Atlantic Citizen is pleased to turn its gaze from the North to the South Atlantic for a needed change of pace.

On Wednesday, two Sciences pistes will be discussing the recent left-right shifts in Argentine and Brazilian politics, with specific attention to whether these shifts are indicative of larger Latin American trends.

Keep an eye out!

26/10/2016

Good morning, evening, and afternoon!

This week in the Atlantic Citizen, Adrien Bradley avails himself of a remarkably compelling cat metaphor to bring us a long-read transatlantic reflection on US and EU monetary policy. Have a look!

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/reflections-on-a-transatlantic-past/

Herding cats

19/10/2016

NEW ISSUE
In the second article of this week's issue on climate change, Sophie Decarme argues that far too much emphasis is currently being placed on mitigation, and far more should be placed on technological and political solutions for a changed world.

https://theatlanticcitizen.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/managing-the-inevitable

Past efforts to prevent climate change have been sufficiently unsuccessful that they have left us with the task of dealing with the inevitable consequences of climate change. Considering our past t…