The fireworks ushering in a new year had barely begun to burn out before President Trump kidnapped President Maduro, threatened to invade a NATO member state, and was faced by the biggest rebellion in Iran since the revolution of 1979. Europe is facing an existential threat to its relevance as both an actor on the global stage and as a concept that unites hundreds of millions of disparate peoples. The federalist project, which - at its core - is about the pooling of sovereignty and the surpassing of the 20th-century nation-state, is at grave risk as the world experiences a revival of empires and vassals.
There are really only two answers for those who see themselves as Europeans and more than just their nation of origin. The first is to accept that the world is retreating from building institutions and bridges between peoples and, however reluctantly, to give up - or at least postpone - the federalist project and merely fight to preserve the EU as we know it. The second is to recognise that the global order as we know it is on the way out - and to fight for its successor to be one of progress and respect for human dignity. At The New Federalist, our purpose is to build the case for the second of the two answers and develop a consciousness for a European future.
Public trust in journalism across Europe is at record lows - and for good reason. The favoured publications of conservatives have naturally always found it easier to finance their journalism, but there has never been more of an imbalance between progressive and conservative media than today. For its part, socialist and other radical publications have put off new generations and died out due to their unwillingness to explore new ideas and avoid outdated jargon. The most worrying trend of all, however, is the purchasing of centre-left platforms such as the Washington Post and Politico by self-interested oligarchs in recent years, sacrificing their editorial integrity to keep in the good graces of authoritarian leaders.
Unless we build our own institutions that can survive without external funding, this trend is only going to worsen and journalism is going to continue becoming mistrusted - pushing more and more people to the fringes of politics. The New Federalist has existed for decades and will celebrate 20 years as an online magazine this April. By surviving as the biggest media proponent of a federal Europe through all the challenges it has faced, it provides a vital platform for new generations of readers and writers to explore the radical ideas of today which can build the accepted norms of tomorrow.
Yet, it is not enough for The New Federalist to merely survive. There is an increasing demand for news and commentary to be presented in an accessible and engaging way through visual and audio content. Social media is being utilised to great effect by our enemies who mobilise those previously uninterested in politics through provocation, charisma, and community-building. We cannot make excuses any longer when we have the same tools as them at our disposal. It is our duty to find ways to break through and provide a counter-narrative to the politics of hatred and division.
As we begin our time as the new Editors-in-Chief of The New Federalist, we see the urgency of getting in front of a rapidly-moving world and providing pro-European federalist answers to the biggest questions we are facing. It is with that in mind that we are calling for authors who are on the front line against nationalism: we want perspectives from across Europe and the rest of the world, passionate about the radical ideas that we need to experiment with, and ready to take the fight to our enemies. Now is the time to take our fight to the next level.
Our publication is divided into five areas: Europe in the World, European Politics, Thinking Federalist, European Society, and Authoritarianism Watch. We are looking for writers who have a special interest in one of those areas or a strong knowledge of countries outside of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany that are often underrepresented. You do not require any prior journalistic experience or native-level English skills, but there is a time commitment and we are currently a volunteer-based organisation. Please apply by the end of Sunday 8th February by using this form and ask us any questions by emailing tnf at jef.eu.
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