In the past years, the European Union faced one of the most crucial crises since its foundation. The financial crisis in the United States spread to Europe in 2008 and the dramatic developments of the dept crisis in Greece followed by financial problems of other member states were only two elements in a chain of struggles.

Cuts in public spending and internal devaluation were the political reactions to these challenges. But when the crisis developed further, it became evident that there had been a “heavy social price tag” for stabilizing the economy and the eurozone. The unemployment rates especially in Greece and Spain rose to historical peaks, particularly affecting young people. The income divergence strongly increased causing citizen to protest openly against the austerity policy making of their governments. The call for a more social Europe grew louder.

But how was the crisis perceived by the citizen of different member states? What solutions can be found to balance social justice and the prerogative of economic growth? Which problems will a social Europe have to face?

These questions and a look back on the crisis are discussed and empirically evaluated in the report “Social cohesion in Europe after the crisis” by the following editors: Knut Dethlefsen, Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Achilleas Mitsos, Antoinnette Primatarova, Radomír Špok and Pawel Swieboda.