Latest blog articles

  • Street harassment and freedom of speech

    Yelling, offensive language, indecent sounds, and to a certain extent even behaviors are being protected as ‘speech’ or as ‘symbolic speech’ by Article 7 of the constitution. If we believe criminal justice is an appropriate instrument, an intervention is only allowed on the part of the national...

    edvard_munch_de schreeuw 1895_MLR
  • Dutch police and headscarf policy

    No headscarves or other religious expressions in the police, in this way we impair the 'neutral' image associated with the police. (Dutch only)

    politie blog hoofddoekjes
  • Secession, independence and constitutional law

    Does Spain have a stong case from the perspective of the decentralised unitary state, to prevent Catalonia from the opportunity to gain independence, and therefore take numerous measures? (Dutch only)

    Spanje vs Catalonië
  • The long read: complex, not impossible (part 2)

    It is also important to remember that democracy is about deliberation, the competition of ideas and the best way forward. A minority government led by the Christian Democrats is Germany’s best chance to come closer to that idea, and to fight against the idea that constitutional democracy is merely...

    Reichstag buiding Germanu Berlin
  • The long read: complex, not impossible (part1)

    Let’s make one thing clear from the start. The Federal Republic of Germany is not facing a constitutional crisis – not by a long stretch. This is despite the Liberals walking away from exploratory negotiations on forming the next federal government with the Christian Democrats (CDU), the Christian...

    Reichstag buiding Germanu Berlin
  • Nogmaals referenda

    Nederland raakt niet uitgepraat over referenda. En dat is niet zo gek, gezien de recente ervaringen uit het Verenigd Koninkrijk, Spanje en natuurlijk het Oekraïne-referendum. In het regeerakkoord staat dat de Wet raadgevend referendum wordt ingetrokken. Wat moeten we nou van referenda vinden?

    referendum stembus
  • We must take indecisive experts very seriously

    ‘Follow your heart.’ Anyone who faces an important choice, will undoubtedly hear this advice at times. Trust your gut feeling and everything will be all right. However, very often our intuition is wrong.  (Dutch only) 

    crossroads intuitie
  • In office, not in power

    She decides: Arleen Foster, MLA, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party effectively pulls the strings on the Conservative minority government.

     the new Conservative/DUP agreement
  • Distant shores (part 2)

    One year after the successful Brexit referendum, the cards are all on the European Union’s side. What Brexit means in such a climate is anyone’s guess, even twelve months later. 

    Number 10 Downing Street_MLR