Enmeshed in Liberty's Embrace

Enmeshed in Liberty's Embrace

The upcoming Summer 2025 edition of the Green European Journal is set to be a critical resource for navigating the complex and contentious debates surrounding the meaning and implications of freedom in democratic societies. The journal, which will be available online and in print, aims to provide a platform for exploring the diverse visions of freedom and their impact on democratic governance.

The edition, titled "Unbound: The Battle Over Freedom," delves into three primary conceptions of freedom: liberal/neo-liberal, green/progressive, and degrowth/sustainable. The liberal/neo-liberal vision emphasises negative liberty, focusing on individual rights, property, and market autonomy. In contrast, the green/progressive vision advocates for a more expansive, positive notion of freedom, encompassing environmental justice, social equality, and the right to a safe, healthy environment. The degrowth/sustainable vision challenges traditional understandings of liberty, proposing the concept of "freedom with less" and reshaping priorities to align with ecological limits.

The struggle over the meaning of freedom has significant consequences for political mobilisation and the core values of democratic societies. As environmental crises and social inequalities deepen, democratic institutions face pressure to accommodate these competing visions, leading to innovative policy approaches and heightened political conflict. This tension can also impact public trust in democratic institutions, with the traditional liberal vision often criticised for neglecting collective risks, while green and progressive visions are sometimes seen as restrictive or anti-individualistic.

The Green European Journal also addresses the international and cross-border implications of these conflicts, highlighting issues such as private land acquisition for tourism and geopolitical strategies of various countries. The journal underscores the need for multi-level governance that is responsive to both local and global justice concerns.

In a world grappling with urgent ecological and social crises, the Green European Journal serves as a vital forum for debating how differing conceptions of freedom shape the trajectory of democratic societies. The edition's exploration of the battle over freedom is timely and essential, providing a compass within the labyrinth of today's ideological battles, leading to different places depending on the starting point and chosen path.

The Green movement's distinctive vision, rooted in a radical critique of all forms of authority, domination, and exploitation, is both a defensive and offensive mission in the face of reactionary movements that undermine democratic institutions, media freedom, and social and civil liberties. The necessary abandonment of unbridled consumption and endless economic growth must be paired with the tangible promise of a new abundance, both material and immaterial. The Green movement's close ties to grassroots social movements and civil society are an invaluable asset to be strengthened in times of crisis.

In conclusion, the Summer 2025 edition of the Green European Journal promises to be an enlightening and thought-provoking exploration of the battle over freedom and its implications for democratic societies. Whether read online or in print, this edition is not to be missed for those seeking a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing democratic governance in the 21st century.

1. The upcoming Summer 2025 edition of the Green European Journal discusses the diverse visions of freedom and their impact on democratic governance.
2. The liberal/neo-liberal conception of freedom focuses on individual rights, property, and market autonomy.
3. In contrast, the green/progressive vision encompasses environmental justice, social equality, and the right to a safe, healthy environment.
4. The degrowth/sustainable vision proposes the concept of "freedom with less" and reshapes priorities to align with ecological limits.
5. The struggle over the meaning of freedom impacts political mobilization and the core values of democratic societies.
6. As environmental crises and social inequalities deepen, democratic institutions face pressure to accommodate competing visions.
7. This tension can affect public trust in democratic institutions, with the traditional liberal vision sometimes criticized for neglecting collective risks.
8. The Green European Journal also addresses international and cross-border implications of these conflicts.
9. Multi-level governance that is responsive to local and global justice concerns is emphasized in the journal.
10. The edition underscores the need for a debate on how differing conceptions of freedom shape the trajectory of democratic societies.
11. The Green movement's radical critique of all forms of authority is both defensive and offensive in the face of reactionary movements.
12. The necessary abandonment of unbridled consumption and endless economic growth must be paired with the tangible promise of a new abundance.
13. The Green movement's close ties to grassroots social movements and civil society are an invaluable asset to be strengthened in times of crisis.
14. The edition promises to be an enlightening and thought-provoking exploration for those seeking a deeper understanding of democratic governance.
15. The journal will be available online and in print, providing a platform for exploration of diverse visions of freedom.
16. The international and cross-border implications of these conflicts include issues like private land acquisition for tourism and geopolitical strategies.
17. The battle over freedom has significant consequences for public trust in democratic institutions.
18. The traditional liberal vision is often criticized for neglecting collective risks, while green and progressive visions can be seen as restrictive or anti-individualistic.
19. The Green European Journal serves as a vital forum for debating how differing conceptions of freedom shape the trajectory of democratic societies.
20. Heightened political conflict can result from these competing visions of freedom.
21. The Green movement's vision is rooted in a radical critique of domination and exploitation.
22. The journal's topics also include policy approaches to accommodate these competing visions.
23. The journal's exploration of the battle over freedom is timely and essential in today's ideological battles.
24. The Green European Journal addresses issues such as climate-change, renewable-energy, and industry as they relate to freedom.
25. In addition to political mobilization, the battle over freedom can impact education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development.
26. The journal covers various sectors like finance, energy, and oil-and-gas industries in relation to freedom and environmental justice.
27. The edition also discusses social-media, war-and-conflicts, accidents, fires, and crime-and-justice as issues intertwined with freedom and democratic governance.

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