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Javier Carbonell

@javiercarbonell.bsky.social

Deputy Director, Future Policy Lab | Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre | Teaching Assistant, Sciences Po | PhD Candidate, University of Edinburgh | Inequality, nationalism, far-right and youth https://sites.google.com/view/javiercarbonell/home

3,458 Followers  |  829 Following  |  266 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024  |  2.3964

Latest posts by javiercarbonell.bsky.social on Bluesky

At the EPC I write more for a more centrist audience, that is why I was addressing them more. I feel that in the "democracy and affordability front" there is space for collaboration between centrism and the far-left. It is my little hope that it works and I try to help to see that.

07.11.2025 12:50 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Yes, many respond to that surge by copying their ideas but not all of them and that strategy can change if proven uneffective.

Also, centrist parties are worried about the affordability issue simply because it is a massive phenomenon that voters care about.

07.11.2025 12:50 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

In my opinion one of the (many) next steps of the far-left is to convince other parties (centrist are the only ones available) to engane in broader coalitions. We just can't avoid it.
I see that many centrist parties are worried about the far-right and the increasing authoritarism it entails.

07.11.2025 12:50 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

PSOE is now considered "leftist" because of years of that coalition, that was not their original position. And I agree that I won't convince them just by saying it. In politics you need power and votes, but again, the far-left (or greens) are starting to get that again in some countries.

07.11.2025 12:50 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 2    📌 0

Again, I agree. I must say that I was using "centrist" to refer not only to liberal parties but also to centre-left and centre-right parties, so Spain would fit. I can tell you that it took a lot fo effort for PSOE to agree to forn a government with Podemos/Sumar.

07.11.2025 12:50 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I agree but I don't think that is completely true. I agree that we have MANY such examples but we also have some in the other direction (e.g. Spain's government). I don't have much hope but my aim was to be a little push in the direction of starting to make this option more acceptable to their ears.

07.11.2025 12:13 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Fair point, but like or not centrist are not going to disappear either. We need broad coalitions, even with people we dislike or betrayed us.

07.11.2025 11:46 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Gracias!

07.11.2025 10:47 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

gracias!

07.11.2025 10:47 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
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The centre cannot hold, and it is better to collaborate with a pro-democratic, affordability-focused, growing far-left than with an increasingly authoritarian far-right.

You can read more about it on my latest piece for the @epc-official.bsky.social

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 14    🔁 6    💬 1    📌 0
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But the far-right is: anti-EU, pro-Russia and increasingly authoritarian.

It is time to consider partnerships with pro-redistribution, democratic and internationalist forces on the far left, many of which are clearly pro-European and focus greatly on affordability.

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 16    🔁 6    💬 1    📌 1
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Given current electoral results, centrist parties have to collaborate to some extent with radical parties. The question is no longer whether to work with parties on the extremes, but which ones.

This is why the EPP is clearly flirting with the far right, especially in national governments.

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 14    🔁 5    💬 1    📌 0
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2.- The second thing is that Centrist parties should look to their far-left, not their far-right.

The rise of democratic socialists in the US, Die Linke in Germany, La France Insoumise in France and the recent surge of the UK Green Party indicate that Europe’s far left is also growing.

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 24    🔁 12    💬 1    📌 0
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We have exactly the same concerns in Europe. Cost of living is by far the most important topic in the EU, that is what we should be talking about.

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 25    🔁 8    💬 1    📌 3
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Mamdani won an impressive 84% of women under 29 and 68% of young New York men, proving that the far-right trend of the young is not inevitable. Y

outh can be mobilised behind democratic platforms when affordability concerns are addressed directly.

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 32    🔁 15    💬 1    📌 0
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🗳️ Mamdani's victory means two things for Europe.

1.- It's all about affordability. I am often asked why so many young men are moving to the far right and what can be done about it. It's simple: address their economic precarity.

07.11.2025 10:27 — 👍 103    🔁 64    💬 1    📌 8

¡Estaré hoy a las 19h hablando con @edugaresp.bsky.social sobre desigualdad, genética y herencias!

21.10.2025 10:18 — 👍 5    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
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Feliz Día de la Hipanidad, necesitamos un contrarrelato que sea 1) anti-imperialista y 2) nos haga sentir orgullosos.

La izquierda solo tiene el primero pero necesitamos ambos. Hay toda una tradición ESPAÑOLA crítica con el colonialismo, eso es lo que deberíamos estar celebrando.

12.10.2025 09:59 — 👍 5    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
Preview
Czech parliamentary elections: What future for EU unity? This event is for everyone who wants to understand the implications of these elections, and is essential for anticipating coalition dynamics in Brussels and beyond.

BABIS HAS WON. Would you like a quick and comprehensive recap on the Czech elections? Then join us at the @epc-official.bsky.social today at 2 pm!

👉 www.epc.eu/events/czech...

06.10.2025 10:54 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Would you like a quick and comprehensive recap of the upcoming Czech elections? Then join us on Monday at 2 pm!

01.10.2025 11:18 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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El INE ha vuelto a revisar sus cálculos del nivel del PIB al alza. Es decir, nuestra economía ha crecido un poco más de lo que se pensaba, y además ahorra sabemos que el aumento de la inversión ha sido importante. Como decía este finde Vidal-Folch, "pasan cosas. Sin ruido, pero pasan"

21.09.2025 15:40 — 👍 18    🔁 17    💬 3    📌 0
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JOB ADVERT: If you are a recent graduate with a strong interest in EU institutions, enlargement, and/or democratic backsliding, come work with us at the @epc-official.bsky.social as a Programme Assistant!

Link: epc.eu/vacancies/pr...

Deadline: 15th September, but apply as soon as possible!

01.09.2025 15:41 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

¿Por qué más chicos varones jóvenes votan a la extrema derecha? La mejor explicación es la de Javier Carbonell, este hilo es excelente, la pena es que está en inglés
bsky.app/profile/javi...

04.07.2025 07:16 — 👍 15    🔁 6    💬 2    📌 1
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Obviamente la defensa es necesaria y protege nuestro bienestar pero es que los mismos que nos piden reforzar las murallas de la ciudad luego dejan pasar al Caballo de Troya.

Nadie que pacte con la extrema derecha puede hablar con legitimidad de seguridad europea.

28.06.2025 08:31 — 👍 5    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Más bienestar = más seguridad, porque los recortes se asocian con más voto a la extrema derecha, que son los aliados de Putin y Trump.

Tener al aliado del enemigo dentro de casa es mucho más peligroso que no tener el último tanque.

28.06.2025 08:31 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
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Hay un argumento que me da mucha rabia, y es que la defensa es necesaria para proteger el bienestar, porque es literalmente al contrario.

28.06.2025 08:31 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
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Are young women really becoming more progressive? Is there really a masculinity crisis? What does the left need to do to win back power?

Come join me for a live recording of the fast-growing #TalkBrussels podcast 🎙.

🕑 Monday 23rd at 7:30 pm in Brussels

Register here 👇
lnkd.in/dsDVqV5n

19.06.2025 13:20 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

¡Excelente hilo de @lordolordor.bsky.social sobre qué pasa con los hombres!

18.06.2025 07:49 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
TGA2ARH: "What we need... are heroes." (Enemy at the Gates)
YouTube video by vmipsychmajor TGA2ARH: "What we need... are heroes." (Enemy at the Gates)

Cuando le estaba dando vueltas al tema me salió un vídeo, un short de youtube, con esta escena y me pareció una revelación porque es precisamente lo que quería expresar, que estamos en un cerco y que necesitamos héroes (además la peli me gusta bastante)
youtu.be/Lb1BeZf3ros?...

17.06.2025 16:02 — 👍 18    🔁 6    💬 3    📌 5

Entiendo la pregunta, aquí mi respuesta:

bsky.app/profile/javi...

01.06.2025 11:02 — 👍 0    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0

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