A Citizen’s Guide to Greece 2015
0
comments
@#$% democracy
Posted September 23, 2015 by DW
I first saw this illustration on Facebook early this past Monday morning, after I had read initial accounts in the Greek press on voter turnout in the September 20 general election. My first reflex was maybe to share it with awi tty caption. To be truthful, I experienced an odd combination of emotions when I […]
comments
The New Byzantine
Posted May 3, 2012 by DW
By David Wisner Byzantine: …excessively complicated and detailed… (Oxford English Dictionary) I went to my local mall this past weekend. Malls are interesting places to observe human behavior, and it strikes me that they may be seen as microcosms of the state. A mall is at once a symbol of affluence and symptom of globalization. […]
comments
What they’re saying about us now
Posted July 10, 2012 by MK
An annotated collection of recommended articles about Greece and the eurozone, updated regularly by Politis’ summer staff intern, Miriam Kamil. To July 5, 2012 Ann Appelbaum of the Washington Post had this to say on June 29 about the immediate post-election climate in Greece. It is an excellent recap of the events of the week […]
comments
Inspiration Xchange: activism, creative participation, and democracy
Posted April 9, 2013 by RS
comments
Center right, center left
Posted December 23, 2012 by Politis
The title of a recent analysis in Politico – “The disappearing independent” – struck this reader as personal. I looked down at my hands, at my feet; checked in the mirror to see that my nose, ears, and eyebrows were still there; I even dug out my blood pressure gizmo to make sure my heart […]
comments
Opa!
Posted May 30, 2013 by Politis
A nice ad from Aegean. When you come to Greece learn to do it the Greek way.
comments
Gaming the election?
Posted March 29, 2013 by DW
By David Wisner Researchers Robert Epstein and Ronald E. Robertson have prepared a paper in which they argue that an Internet search engine, not Google necessarily but “a future Google,” might be able to manipulate search results in such a way as to impact the outcome of an election. “In a controlled experiment,” they write, […]
comments
Looking at strangers in a globalized world
Posted November 29, 2013 by pdcadmin
By Franchesca Verendia Leaving for Greece from the US I was expecting plenty of things—good food, a nice view, rich history, and some beautiful weather. I was even expecting some initial culture shock. What I was not expecting were the long stares when I walked down the street, the second-guessing questions (“So where are from?” […]
comments
You don’t have to go to Greece, you know…
Posted February 3, 2014 by pdcadmin
By Francesca Kareivis I had to get a physical examination to study abroad and when I told my doctor I was going to Greece the first thing she said was “You know, it’s not too late… You don’t have to go.” Needless to say, not many people supported my decision to study in Greece. And […]
comments
Ageing, but with grace?
Posted January 20, 2013 by DW
The editors of Kathimerini write in today’s online English edition that “The prime minister knows better than anyone else how difficult the job ahead is, and how many problems he has to deal with… he is making a gigantic effort to hold the country together even though he is dealing with a shattered public administration and […]
comments
Big state
Posted July 8, 2013 by pdcadmin
By Jannis Papadimitriou Greece’s lenders have urged the country to reduce its excessive state apparatus. But few people trust that will be possible. Political clientelism and patronage have a long tradition in Greece’s administrative bodies. Back in the fall of 2012, the Greek coalition government under Conservative leader Antonis Samaras promised to lay off 15,000 […]
comments
Gender biography and citizenship
Posted April 9, 2012 by pdcadmin
By Maria Kyriakidou On March 5, 2012 the Dukakis Center co-hosted a workshop on women’s biographies, life stories and autobiographies. The workshop consisted of panels regarding the research methodology on gender and biography, specific historical examples from a European and South-East European context as well as presentations on local history, with a brief historical account […]
comments
Saying of the day: 6/28/13
Posted June 28, 2013 by DW
“If history tells us anything, the fight against NSA secrecy is a winnable.” — Gregory Ferenstein, TechCrunch
comments
Bazaar Ευθύνης
Posted April 21, 2013 by Politis
By Politis The third annual Philanthropic Bazaar (Bazaar Ευθύνης) took place this past weekend at the Thessaloniki Regency Casino. Some thirty non-profit charities and NGOs working with needy and handicapped children took part in the event, which also featured live music. children’s games, and food. The event was staffed by volunteers who are otherwise employed […]
comments
Catalan Way Toward Independence
Posted September 5, 2013 by Politis
A recent press release on the Catalan New Agency describes an interesting form of citizen activism. “This coming 11th of September – which is Catalonia’s National Day – pro-independence supporters have organised the so-called ‘Catalan Way Towards Independence’ that calls for the independence from Spain. The gigantic human chain will cross Catalonia from North to […]
comments
Tea Party right, Tea Party left
Posted February 9, 2013 by Politis
From yesterday’s CNN, the following report that Senator Rand Paul will deliver the official Tea Party response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address on February 12. “Tea party leaders are turning to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, to deliver their message following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, a speech that will […]
comments
In praise of “person-centered” politics
Posted September 30, 2013 by Politis
Krysta Kalahani and Maria Patsarika, two of Politis’ regular contributors, enjoyed an exchange on Facebook this past weekend on the merits of “person-centered” municipal politics, inspired by a recent report, excerpted below, in the Thessaloniki daily Aggelioforos. We share an excerpt below. Krysta: I am coming to this article hot off a fcbk conversation with […]
comments
Alex is back, lazier and more hard-working then ever
Posted May 8, 2013 by Politis
Alex is back, thanks to Damian Mac Con Uladh of EnetEnglish. “Alex, the popular animation character that seeks to demolish the negative, crisis-fuelled stereotypes about Greece in his own little way, has returned to YouTube, this time to challenge the “fact” that Greeks are lazy… Part two features Alex, a metaphor for the Greek people, […]
comments
GovLab
Posted April 21, 2013 by Politis
“The Governance Lab (The GovLab) aims to improve people’s lives by changing how we govern. We are seeking new ways to solve public problems using advances in technology and science. Innovations in technology and science are empowering individuals to engage with one another – and with traditional institutions of governance – to tackle problems more […]
comments
Open data: what it is, what it is not
Posted July 29, 2013 by Politis
This clip, courtesy of The Guardian, provides a nice overview of the state of thinking about open data, which advocates argue will revolutionize political practice in positive fashion in the months and years to come. See for yourself whether you agree.