Race And Politics In Europe Today Most Europeans were thrilled when Barack Obama was elected U.S. president. But when Europeans ask themselves, "Could a member of one of our own minorities be elected head of state?" the honest answer is: "Not any time soon." NPR's Sylvia Poggioli explains why.

Special Series

Race And Politics In Europe Today

Subscribe to NPR's Up First Email

French Minorities Push For Equality Post-Obama

January 14, 2009 • France has long been considered more enlightened than America on matters of race. But Barack Obama's election as U.S. president has underscored France's failure to achieve a colorblind society. Now, French politicians are being pressed to promote more diversity.

French Minorities Push For Equality Post-Obama

Listen

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99298290/99328352" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Immigrants Forced To Margins Of Italian Society

January 13, 2009 • Once an exporter of laborers, Italy now finds itself importing workers from abroad. Despite this need, many Italians feel they are the victims of an immigrant "invasion." Discrimination against foreigners is widespread, and there has been a recent surge in racist attacks.

Immigrants Forced To Margins Of Italian Society

Listen

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99255579/99276419" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Reporter's Notebook

'Obama Effect' Instills Hope In Europe's Minorities

January 12, 2009 • Europe celebrated Barack Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election. But, as NPR's Sylvia Poggioli writes in this Reporter's Notebook, his win also has forced the continent to realize that prospects for a "European Obama" among its own minority populations remain bleak.

German Minorities Still Fight To Be Seen, Heard

January 12, 2009 • Barack Obama's election was met with euphoria in Europe. But it's unlikely that a minority there will reach such prominence any time soon. In Germany, for instance, national identity is still strictly linked to ethnicity — and nonwhites still face considerable barriers.

German Minorities Still Fight To Be Seen, Heard

Listen

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99189265/99235422" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Obama's Election Prompts Soul-Searching In Europe

January 9, 2009 • Most Europeans were thrilled when Barack Obama was elected U.S. president. But when Europeans ask themselves, "Could a member of one of our own minorities be elected head of state?" the honest answer is: "Not any time soon." NPR's Sylvia Poggioli explains why in a three-part series.

Browse archive or search npr.org