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09.03.2026

Backlash Is Bad for Business

Turning equality into a culture war issue may result in economic self-harm. Dismissing equal opportunities and skills development as so-called »woke« distractions may undermine Europe’s competitiveness.

A right-wing backlash against practices condemned as too »liberal« or »woke« is gaining momentum in Europe. In a kind of anticipatory compliance with Washington and under pressure from far-right populist political campaigns, progressive initiatives are hastily being rolled back. Climate-neutral transformation? Too expensive. Corporate responsibility? Too bureaucratic. Gender equality? Too ideological.

Interested to read more, please follow the link.

The article was published under “Ongoing Struggles across Old and New Frontiers” Issue 2026/13, FES Future of Work.

The author is Claudia Detsch, Director, FES Competence Centre Climate and Social Justice. Her previous positions include Editor-in-Chief of the IPG Journal and Director of Nueva Sociedad.

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Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Climate and Social Justice

Cours Saint Michel 30e
1040 Brussels, Belgium
+32 23 29 30 33
justclimate(at)fes.de

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