Revolting Europe
economy
What’s driving Germany’s hardline stance on Greece?
By Juan Torres López* The media and the centres of economic and political power in Europe try to make us believe that the difficulties in reaching agreement with Greece come from the demands and bad practices in this country and that it is the position of the new Greek government which justifies the intransigent treatment … Continue reading
94 reasons why French trade unions have boycotted Hollande’s job summit
Francois Hollande’s jobs summit is becoming a farse. Unemployment in France has risen to a new high of 3.4 million. The socialist President is desperate to be seen to be doing something about it. But Monday yet another union walked out of the two day ‘social summit’, an unprecedented desertion by organised labour for any administration in Paris, … Continue reading
A Gathering Storm: Eurozone in 2014
Is Europe’s single currency bloc stabilising? Behind the current picture of calm storm clouds are gathering, says French economist Jacques Sapir, in this recent interview with Greek newspaper Kefalaio (Capital) Kefalaio: What is your reaction to the image of stability in the Eurozone promoted by European leaders? What are the possible ruptures (eg in the case … Continue reading
Is Europe’s economy recovering?
By Juan Torres López The media tell us that the latest data from Eurostat indicate that Europe is out of recession and that the economy is finally recovering, because the statistics recorded positive GDP growth of 0.3% in the euro area during the second quarter. Obviously the fact that the figures show that there has … Continue reading
Europe’s social and ecological transition: A view from Spain
By Florent Marcellesi Martin Luther King said that every crisis brings not only opportunities but also dangers. So far, the European and national policies of austerity cuts have shown us the particularly dangerous face of social, ecological and democratic crisis. They have led to misery and unemployment for millions of people, mainly in the southern … Continue reading
Democracy or the Euro?
According to the German Constitutional Court it is not acceptable that “the most important decisions at European level be negotiated in anonymous corridors of the Brussels bureaucracy.” In Italy too, we should ask ourselves whether it is right that economic policy is torn from popular sovereignty and dictated by foreign countries and international financial oligarchies. … Continue reading
Six reasons why Portugal held a general strike this week
Portugal’s two main confederations held a general strike Thursday – the fourth general national stoppage in two years. Why? Since 2011, when the government of Portugal signed up to the Troika bail out loan conditions of austerity and neoliberal ‘reforms’, this is what has happened: Real wages have fallen by 9.2% Household spending has fallen … Continue reading
Italians say ‘enough’ in mass protest against new government
“Enough. We can not wait any longer.” This was slogan behind which tens of thousands of workers, students, pensioners and radical left activists were marching in Rome Saturday in the first major protest against Italy’s new centre-left-right government. Led by metalworkers’ union Fiom, thousands of people marched to the beat of drums and whistles in … Continue reading
Italian lessons on privatisation
Privatisation has benefitted the very few, leading to massive job losses, delivering a bad deal for consumers and sowing the seeds of today’s financial and economic crisis, and yet the process goes on, says Marco Bersani. In an extract from his new book, Bersani surveys the case of Italy, home of one the world’s largest public … Continue reading
Eurozone: A step closer to the precipice
Why Merkel has no choice to pursue austerity in Europe, despite its catastrophic social and economic consequences. And to save Europe, the Eurozone must be ditched. By Jacques Sapir Thanks to the combined effect of austerity policies, the Eurozone is sinking into crisis. Yet never have debates on economic policy been so intense. Political leaders, both Germany … Continue reading
The Past Masters of Error Pontificate Again
By Juan Torres López The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has just published its new report on the Spanish economy that makes predictions about our immediate future and presents proposals, it says, to exit the crisis. The forecasts pour a bucket of cold water on the Spanish government because they say that we … Continue reading
Italy’s precariat protest as recession continues
‘We are not choosy,’ say a group of ‘precarious’ workers in the latest of a string of protests against the insulting remarks made last month by Italy’s labour minister Elsa Fornero about the country’s struggling unemployed youth. In a gesture protest they ‘cleaned’ streets to show their willingness to engage in useful projects for Naples. A … Continue reading
France’s competitiveness ‘shock’ : a campaign of disinformation
By Laurent Mauduit François Hollande committed a major error announcing on July 9 at the opening of the ‘Social Summit’ , that the first of his five priorities was the issue of competitiveness. It was a political mistake, because it saw the head of state mount the battle horse of the Right and the employers. … Continue reading
Sliding to the Periphery – Italy, the Crisis and Europe
Europe was meant to offer the prospect of completing the modernisation of Italy, consolidating an advanced economy, expanding welfare and democracy. Instead, there’s been economic decline and a degradation of democracy while Europe is becoming increasingly unpopular, argues Mario Pianta Read
An Answer to Italy’s Forgotten Southern Question
IN THE RADICAL PRESS / IL MANIFESTO By Tonino Perna In the 1960s and 1970s reports by the Association for the Development of Industry in the South (Svimez) on the health of the Mezzogiorno were followed with great attention and aroused a great political debate. Pasquale Saraceno, passionate president of Svimez, was exalted or depressed … Continue reading
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