Are Europe’s culture wars just a distraction from class struggle?

In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we explore how Europe’s so-called culture wars are used to divert attention from structural economic issues.  With insight from political scientist and member of the Social Democrats Justus Seuferle and Politics Professor at the University of Bath, Aurélien Mondon, the episode examines how political and media discourse has…

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In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we explore how Europe’s so-called culture wars are used to divert attention from structural economic issues.

 With insight from political scientist and member of the Social Democrats Justus Seuferle and Politics Professor at the University of Bath, Aurélien Mondon, the episode examines how political and media discourse has shifted away from material concerns like wages, housing, and labour rights, towards debates on identity, migration, and “wokeness.”

Our guests argue that this cultural framing distorts the concept of class and often benefits elite interests, while marginalising those most affected by economic inequality. Through this lens, we question who really shapes the public narrative in Europe, and who is excluded from it.

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Every two weeks, a personal story takes you to a different European country to help you understand how current social and environmental issues shape our daily lives. In each issue, our team selects three cultural recommendations to explore the topic from a different angle. Available in French, English, and Italian—and it’s free.