The Welfare State Saved Capitalism. Now It Can Save European Democracy.

A growing skepticism of social spending risks undermining a post-war pillar of Europe’s stability.

French Minister of National Education Elisabeth Borne, Minister of Labor and Employment Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, and High Commissioner for Vocational Education and Training Eric Garnier visit the Campus of Trades and Qualifications of Excellence in Evry-Courcouronnes, France, on May 19. December 12, 2025, 8:43 AM

As Europe confronts a new wave of fiscal strain, the European welfare state is once again portrayed by critics as an unsustainable liability . In France, where political volatility has seen four prime ministers in less than two years, concerns over rising public expenditures—driven by demographic aging, ear

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