A Citizen’s Guide to Greece 2015
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Global occupy
Posted April 13, 2013 by Politis
By Politis David Graeber offers an insightful excerpt from his book The Democracy Project in today’s Salon on media coverage of the Occupy Wall Street. Why, he asks, did the US mainstream media “eventually began treating the occupation as a major news story.” His answer has both a peculiarly US and also a potentially profound […]
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The power of habit
Posted April 15, 2013 by M P
By Maria Patsarika Scenario 1 A couple of weeks ago I read that Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary in the UK, claimed that he could live on £53 per week, after a benefits claimant told the BBC that he makes ends meet with the same amount, excluding housing costs. Ιn light of […]
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Saying of the day: 4/17/13
Posted April 17, 2013 by Politis
“When the civilian bystanders to the attack ran toward the first blast to give aid to the victims, without a second thought for their own safety, the primary desire of the terrorists — to paralyze a populace with fear — was already thwarted. ” — Dennis Lehane
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Europe – Crisis without End?
Posted April 20, 2013 by Politis
By Politis This past week the Municipality of Thessaloniki has hosted a unique Franco-German initiative, in collaboration with the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe, a Dutch-registered NGO based in Thessaloniki with outreach throughout the Balkans. Academics, journalists, practitioners, and above all university students have gathered in Thessaloniki to continue their ongoing series […]
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What we need in politics today
Posted April 20, 2013 by pdcadmin
By Maria Kalogeroudi I just read a post by Angelos Barbalios. This guy is what we need in today’s politics: enthusiastic and young. I like how his article is straight to the point, yet any college student who is psyched about politics could generate such a blog entry. Still a very interesting blog to follow […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Exclusive interview with blogger Kostas Kallergis
Posted April 22, 2013 by Politis
Freelance journalist and blogger Kostas Kallergis recently visited the Dukakis Center where he spoke about fighting corruption in politics. In his prepared remarks he underlined that there are two main methods of fighting corruption: 1) the Judicial system, as it has laws as weapons; and 2) the media, which inflicts punishment through publication. Kallergis also […]
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After the storm
Posted April 22, 2013 by KK
By Krysta Kalachani In business transactions, as in all transactions that one desires to be fruitful, productive and of mutual benefit all interested parties are supposed to establish a ground of mutual trust first. Mutual trust must be accepted as a prerequisite, because otherwise transactions, social relations, relations between citizens and governments, and among people […]
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Dismantling the Greek Tammany Hall
Posted April 24, 2013 by Politis
Politis reprint The information gradually coming to light regarding corruption in the Greece’s local government demonstrates to what extent fraudulent behavior had spread across the country. Judging from the kind of evidence that is currently emerging, it is becoming increasingly clear that a large number of mayors had developed small fiefdoms based on clientelism, were […]
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Around the town: 4/25/13
Posted April 25, 2013 by laura
This weekly feature offers a glimpse of what is happening in and around Thessaloniki. Compiled by Laura Strieth. Thu 25th April– PillBOX open market ‘Spring Bouquet’- The PillBOX market features the latest trends in handicrafts, accessories, clothes, ornaments, cosmetics, collectable vinyl and many more cool items at low prices. This bazaar-market will take place in […]
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Political extremism and violence
Posted April 25, 2013 by DW
By David Wisner Takis Michas has written about political extremism and violence in today’s Protagon. “Is there really a difference,” he asks, “between the violent tactics used or condoned by SYRIZA (riots, occupations of public buildings, harassment of university teachers, intimidation of political opponents, hate speech etc ) and those used or condoned by Golden […]
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Juergen Habermas on the future of the EU
Posted April 27, 2013 by Politis
German philosopher Juergen Habermas spoke at the Catholic University of Leuven last week to an audience that included students and Herman Van Rompuy, current President of the European Council. Habermas entitled his lecture “Democracy, Solidarity and the European Crisis.” What Europe needs, he said, “is solidarity and a cooperative approach that results from a shared […]
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Nerdy citizenry
Posted April 29, 2013 by Politis
By Politis Are geeks the model citizens of the 21st century? Bill Moyers and Co. think so, with compelling evidence. “… we see hackers getting involved in so many different domains of politics… there are some bread and butter issues: free speech and privacy, civil liberties. This is something that a lot of hackers who […]
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Is there an EU education gap?
Posted May 8, 2013 by Politis
Anders Aslund, the author of a report on the root causes of the eurozone crisis published on the website of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, argues that “[t]he most overlooked common problem of the four Southern European countries—Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece—is that they are all hampered by little education and the poor quality […]
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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, […]
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United in grievance
Posted May 8, 2013 by DW
By Politis Is there a global explanation for the rise of so many disparate protest movements across the globe since 2008? John Kay thinks so in his column in today’s Financial Times. “The financial crisis of 2008 was a failure of both an economic system and a political system. The inability of democratic politics to […]
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Participedia
Posted May 8, 2013 by Politis
Participedia is an open global knowledge community for researchers and practitioners in the field of democratic innovation and public engagement. “We live in a world in which citizens of most countries are asking for greater involvement in collective decisions. Many governments, non-governmental organizations, and even some corporations are responding by experimenting with ways to increase public […]