Agora
Posts in Society
Locating Europe's pulse in the refugee crisis
Neo-Nazis marching through the streets of Sweden, the far-right making its political presence felt in Austria, a beefed up military and police presence on borders in many parts of Europe and stinging criticism on moral and legal grounds of the “one in, one out” agreement with Turkey from human rights groups – these are just some of the signs of the existential crisis that the European Union is experiencing.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (281), Society (140)
The refugee crisis and the beast within
As symbols go, the imaginary pig’s head in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies requires little explanation. Its meaning is summed up in one line of the unnerving classic. “Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!” says the fly-infested head. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?”
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (281), Society (140), Greece (496)
Greece a gateway and scapegoat in EU's refugee crisis
Greece activated last Thursday the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, agreed to allow Frontex to operate on its border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and triggered the Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABIT) mechanism for help with Aegean patrols.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (281), Politics (385), Society (140), Greece (496)
Refugee influx pushes Tsipras towards crisis nexus
The nexus of Greece’s most challenging problems, and perhaps the ones that will make or break the current government, were indirectly highlighted by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last week.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (281), Politics (385), Society (140), Greece (496)
Between heaven and hell
What is the distance between heaven and hell? About 700 metres – I measured it on Monday. The morning after the referendum on the Eurogroup’s bailout proposal, I visited my local pharmacy, where my pharmacist was confident that the convincing No vote the night before would lead to good things for Greece. “Everything will be fine,” he said. I walked home and bumped into my neighbour. His view of the referendum was completely different. “We’re doomed now,” he told me.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (281), Society (140), Greece (496)