How polarised is European politics? + Finance jobs widening inequalities

Europe Edition - Today's top story: How polarised is European politics? Here's how your generation, gender and where you live affect what you believe View in browser 13 August 2026 Europe Edition   Europe is experiencing political polarisation. The transformation of extreme parties in recent years from the fringes of power into dominant political forces across the continent is perhaps the clearest evidence of this. But just how polarised has European politics become? This is a question Rory Fitzgerald, the director of the European Social Survey at City St George’s, University of London, delves into in this piece. Citing data spanning from 2002 to 2023, he explains how your generation, gender and where you live in Europe affect what you believe. Finance jobs are widening income inequality in cities around the world, says a study by researchers in the US, Spain and France. The finding has profound implications for the sorts of societies we want to create. And what can invented languages like Elvish, Klingon and Pig Latin teach us about the human brain? Well, it appears quite a lot.   Sam Phelps Commissioning Editor, International Affairs   How polarised is European politics? Here’s how your generation, gender and where you live affect what you believe Rory Fitzgerald, City St George's, University of London Discussions in the media about the generational divide in politics only capture part of what is happening.   Elvish, Klingon and Pig Latin: what can invented languages teach us about the human brain? Inka Romero-Ortells Labrada, Universidad Nebrija; Jon Andoni Duñabeitia, Universidad Nebrija; Manuel Perea, Universitat de València From pidgins to Tolkien and Esperanto, humans have created entirely new languages for many different reasons. Why finance jobs are widening income inequality in cities around the world Marta M. Elvira, IESE Business School (Universidad de Navarra) ; Nils Neumann, University of Michigan; Olivier Godechot, Sciences Po Our study found that financial hubs around the world have significantly higher levels of income inequality.   Europe’s wildfires have raised the danger posed by unexploded WWII bombs Sarah Njeri, SOAS, University of London; Christina Greene, University of Arizona Europe is full of buried explosives left over from 20th century wars, and wildfires are now reaching them more regularly.   Solar eclipses are a source of fascination, legends and scientific discovery Yaël Nazé, Université de Liège What’s the most impressive natural phenomenon known to humankind? Probably a solar eclipse! Here’s a brief overview ahead of this summer’s big celestial event. Can the searing European summer put climate action back on the agenda – or will disaster response take over? Lauren Rickards, La Trobe University; Hartmut Fünfgeld, La Trobe University; Magnus Moglia, La Trobe University Wildfire, drought and heat have made climate change impossible to avoid this northern summer. But will authorities tackle the cause – or the symptoms?   The Ceuta border incident shows how EU migration can be ‘weaponised’ – but overall levels are declining Matilde Rosina, Brunel University of London The Ceuta crossing is just one part of the wider migration story in the Mediterranean. What types of social interactions benefit people with social anxiety the most? Aurelio Fernández, Universidad de Navarra; Álvaro Villagrán Sánchez, Universidad de Navarra; Joe Bayer, The Ohio State University Our study suggests that socialising with acquaintances could trigger social anxiety more than close friends or strangers.   Kidney disease is also a brain disease. Here’s why Mickaël Bobot, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU) Kidney disease is often associated with dialysis or transplants, but it also affects memory and concentration, and increases stroke risk. Will companies ever be run by an AI CEO? Nick Butler, Stockholm University; Sverre Spoelstra, Lund University Artificial intelligence cannot replace human leadership – but the problem is not machines, it’s people.     You’re receiving this newsletter from The Conversation The Conversation France (assoc. 1901) 14, rue Sainte-Cécile 75009 Paris Forward to a friend  •  Unsubscribe