Why doesn’t Greece reform? Dimitris Papadimitriou and Kevin Featherstone on why the Greek political system has contributed to the mess the country finds itself in. Over the past few years the inability of successive Greek governments to deliver on the demands of international creditors has been a key feature of Greece’s bailout drama. Frustrated observers […]
Greece and the future of the European Project
Agreement has been reached over a deal to keep Greece in the Euro, for the time being at least. But, Mustafa Cirakli says, the problems in the country and the whole Eurozone are far from over. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t! Such was the predicament in which the SYRIZA-led Greek government stood in […]
Is the Ship of Fools setting sail from Europe?
The Ship of Fools – in Foucault’s book Madness and Civilisation – set sail from Basel in the 14th Century. Today the European Central Bank is launching its own Ship of Fools with quantitative easing, argues Ian Crowther. Basel is home to a museum of alchemy and micro prudential banking regulation. It was also where […]
Greece- The shape of things to come
In the aftermath of the Greek general election, which put SYRIZA, an anti-austerity left wing party, into power in coalition with far-right Independent Greeks, Dimitris Papadimitriou Professor of European politics at The University of Manchester, explores the situation and assess the possible impact. So, there you have it! Greek bailout politics have come full circle. […]
Drastic action needed to reverse European political trajectory
Costas Simitis, a former Greek Prime Minister, has urged Europe’s political leaders to demonstrate solidarity and have a vision for Europe’s future, reports Ewan Munro. Given the traumatic nature of recent Greek political and economic history, and the extent of the demands placed on the Athens government by the Troika, it might have been expected […]
‘Euroscepticism Lite’: the Greek verdict on EU membership
The country that suffered the most in the Eurozone crisis is seeking EU reform, not withdrawal, explains Dr George Kyris. The European Parliament elections that have just taken place were arguably the most important in the history of the European Union. The European Parliament has more power than ever before, demands have grown for greater […]
Failure of Euro leaders will be felt at the polls
Analysis of Greece’s financial meltdown has tended to focus on the deficiencies of the Economic and Monetary Union, but the crisis was also the result of failures by the Eurozone’s leadership in terms of co-ordination and communication, explain Prof Dimitris Papadimitriou and Dr Sotirios Zartaloudis. And they argue the results of this European failure of […]
‘Greece has a problem, but Greece is not the problem’
Former Greek Prime Minster George Papandreou delivered the Manchester Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence’s Annual Lecture, accompanied by two formidable looking bodyguards. Ewan Munro heard him affirm his commitment to the European Project and decry the lack of visionary leadership at the national level. While the Eurozone crisis may have slipped from the front pages […]