A Citizen’s Guide to Greece 2015
0
comments
Coming soon: ACTMUN 2013
Posted March 1, 2013 by Politis
Thessaloniki’s original intercollegiate Model United Nations simulation is back! That’s right, it’s time for ACTMUN 2013. Specially designed for students, friends, and alumni… That’s right, ACT alumni can play too! Stay tuned to this page for more details, and for information about the 15th anniversary celebrations of ACT’s BA in International Relations.
comments
What is the public value framework?
Posted April 2, 2013 by Politis
“[T]ransparency, participation, and collaboration are best viewed as instrumental to the accomplishment of democracy in that they enable citizens to enact their various roles as citizens. That is, transparency is not an end citizens pursue for its own sake. Citizens may desire their government to be transparent, but that is largely because something else is […]
comments
Why ideology needs to take a back seat for now: a response to the May Elections
Posted June 15, 2012 by RS
By Ruth Sutton The Greek electorate voted with the less practical parts of their bodies in May… their feet, hearts and gall… and not so much with their heads. The two parties (and their dynasties) that have dominated the political scene for decades desperately needed a wake-up call, but will voters risk instability in order […]
comments
Why all the talk about revolution now?
Posted November 15, 2013 by Politis
Politis invited regular contributors Krysta Kalachani and Maria Patsarika to comment on two recent blog posts discussing revolution, by Christos Giannaras and Politis’ own David Wisner. Why all this talk about revolution now? Are we getting it right? KK: Why don’t you like it? Love it. One reason that you are not sure about it […]
comments
53 seconds
Posted February 23, 2013 by pdcadmin
By Nikos Xydakis Last Sunday, during Spain’s biggest annual cinematic event, an actress from Catalonia walked onto the stage to receive the Goya Award from the Spanish Film Academy for best actress, marking the third major prize she has won in her career. Candela Pena, a Mediterranean brunette in her 40s who looks a little […]
comments
Should we look to ancient Athens?
Posted April 21, 2016 by Politis
By Claudia Chwalisz Editor’s note: Originally published on policy-network.net as “An Athenian solution to democratic discontent,” February 19, 2015. Reposted by permission of the author. New forms of contact democracy and innovative forums that allow political and economic institutions to deliberate with citizens are important steps in the long-term battle to renew representative democracy for the […]
comments
Vote for Angie!
Posted September 9, 2013 by Politis
Fears in Germany that conservative voters may abstain from voting in the coming German national election. Their response: erotic dancers. Would the picture of this semi-nude performer inspire you to vote?
comments
It happened. It’s done. Now what.
Posted November 14, 2016 by Politis
By Jayde Hansen Regardless of how we feel about the elections, there is absolutely nothing we can do about the selection of the president at this point. What we can do is be catalysts for change. Social media has gone absolutely crazy since the world found out that Donald Trump is now the president of […]
comments
Second Festival of Civic and Urban Culture, April 2016
Posted April 4, 2016 by Politis
Press release For immediate release March 24, 2016 During a ten-day period from April 11-20 the Michael and Kitty Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service at the American College of Thessaloniki will host its Second Festival of Civic and Urban Culture. The 2016 Festival will include, among others, a masterclass in stop-motion animation for […]
comments
ERT: Burning down the house
Posted June 14, 2013 by KK
By Krysta Kalachani Maria Houkli has a point in her editorial on the closure of ERT in glimatikotika.gr Friday morning. But there can also be strong criticism to what she says. In my view the way that the government decided to close down ERT sends messages drawn from other political systems: the public or state […]
comments
Would you swear an oath to the Queen?
Posted July 11, 2013 by DW
By David Wisner The Globe and Mail ran a story yesterday about “would-be Canadian citizens” who are up in arms about the oath of allegiance they must swear to the British monarch prior to earning full rights as citizens of Canada. The Citizenship Act requires applicants for citizenship to swear or affirm they will be […]
comments
When Philotimo stood with African-Americans
Posted February 15, 2013 by pdcadmin
By Andreas Akaras February is Black History Month, a monthlong celebration of the African diaspora’s contributions to America. During this month long observance, we Greek-Americans are reminded of the many outstanding Hellenes who stood with the African-American community in its struggle for freedom and dignity. From grade school, we come to know that America is […]
comments
Saying of the day: 3/22/13
Posted March 22, 2013 by Politis
“The outsize influence of hard-line elements in the party base is doing to the GOP what supporters of Gene McCarthy and George McGovern did to the Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s — radicalizing its image and standing in the way of its revitalization.” — Andrew Kohut
comments
And what about the political corruption?
Posted March 12, 2013 by M P
By Maria Patsarika I read an article by Thanasis Skokos in Protagon yesterday about corruption. Actually, it is one of the many articles out there discussing the extent to which politicians who have misused power and public funds are now confronting justice and people’s outrage. Laying responsibilities on the financial side of things is a […]
comments
The importance of being earnest
Posted June 11, 2013 by KK
By Krysta Kalachani “But two stories this week reminded me that media freedom is not just an issue beyond our borders, but also something we must defend here in the EU.” A small but interesting text from Vice President of the EU Commision Neelie Kroes, writing about Greek journalist Kostas Vaxevanis, who was tried once […]
comments
Civil servants’ woes — UK
Posted January 28, 2013 by Politis
The Guardian has an article today on the plight of a large number of disgruntled British civil servants. “Two-thirds of Britain’s most senior civil servants are so demoralised that they are considering leaving their jobs, according to the first survey of mandarins to be conducted since the coalition’s reform plans were published,” they write. The […]
comments
How geeks are taking over government
Posted June 14, 2013 by Politis
A very matter-of-fact clip in today’s Guardian on how open source technology is helping the British civil servants keep up with their work load — through the creation of “compelling digital services for government.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iahpVvPkCf4
comments
Twitter and analysis
Posted February 1, 2013 by Politis
The folks at First Read had this to say on the ultimate effect of quick fire tweets by new age pundits, with respect to Chuck Hagel’s Senate confirmation hearing yesterday. “We’ll make one more point about Hagel’s hearing yesterday: Twitter and all the instant analysis made a bad performance look even worse — just like […]
comments
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 […]
comments
Saying of the day: 3/27/13
Posted March 27, 2013 by Politis
“Cyprus should leave the euro. Now.” — Paul Krugman