https://toarcheio.org To Archeio project site Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:12:54 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1 https://toarcheio.org/items/how-party-linkages-shape-austerity-politics-clientelism-and-fiscal-adjustment-in-greece-and-portugal-during-the-eurozone-crisis/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:31 +0000 http://arc.local/items/how-party-linkages-shape-austerity-politics-clientelism-and-fiscal-adjustment-in-greece-and-portugal-during-the-eurozone-crisis/ Continued]]> Drawing on an analysis of austerity reforms in Greece and Portugal during the sovereign debt crisis from 2009 onwards, we show how the nature of the linkages between parties and citizens shapes party strategies of fiscal retrenchment. We argue that parties which rely to a greater extent on the selective distribution of state resources to mobilize electoral support (clientelistic linkages) are more reluctant to agree to fiscal retrenchment because their own electoral survival depends on their ability to control state budgets to reward clients. In Greece, where parties relied extensively on these clientelistic linkages, austerity reforms have been characterized by recurring conflicts and disagreements between the main parties, as well as a fundamental transformation of the party system. By contrast, in Portugal, where parties relied less on clientelistic strategies, austerity reforms have been more consensual because fiscal retrenchment challenged to a lesser extent the electoral base of the mainstream parties.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/the-impact-of-the-economic-crisis-on-the-ideological-space-in-portugal-and-greece-a-comparison-of-elites-and-voters/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:30 +0000 http://arc.local/items/the-impact-of-the-economic-crisis-on-the-ideological-space-in-portugal-and-greece-a-comparison-of-elites-and-voters/ Continued]]> This work addresses the dimensions and content of ideological space in Portugal and Greece after the onset of the sovereign debt crisis and the imposition of austerity policies in the two countries. By examining both elite interviews and public opinion data, the article principally attempts to determine whether the economic crisis has created a new division in ideological space by cross-cutting or completely replacing older ones. In addition, we attempt to gauge the position of crisis-related issues relative to issue divides on European integration and globalisation which, up to now, have been dormant in Southern European countries.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/south-european-healthcare-systems-under-harsh-austerity-a-progress-regression-mix/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:29 +0000 http://arc.local/items/south-european-healthcare-systems-under-harsh-austerity-a-progress-regression-mix/ Continued]]> This article addresses the question of whether the economic crisis provides a politically opportune time to drastically curtail public healthcare in South Europe or whether, instead, there are signs of longer-term reform strategies for potentially balancing fiscal targets with the quest for enhanced value and health outcomes, when eventually growth resumes. After a brief examination of the profile of healthcare systems in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain prior to the crisis, we comparatively assess the mix of retrenchment, restructuring and recalibration strategies. The effects of the austerity-driven reforms on current (and expected) health outcomes are also briefly analysed. We conclude with reflections on the future of public healthcare in South Europe.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/the-distributional-impact-of-austerity-and-the-recession-in-southern-europe/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:28 +0000 http://arc.local/items/the-distributional-impact-of-austerity-and-the-recession-in-southern-europe/ Continued]]> Southern European welfare states are under stress. On the one hand, the recession has been causing unemployment to rise and incomes to fall. On the other hand, austerity has affected the capacity of welfare states to protect those affected. This paper assesses the distributional implications of the crisis in Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal from 2009 to 2013. Using a microsimulation model, we disentangle the first-order effects of tax–benefit policies from the broader effects of the crisis, and estimate how its burden has been shared across income groups. We conclude by discussing the methodological pitfalls and policy implications of our research.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/crisis-and-creativity-the-new-cinemas-of-portugal-greece-and-spain/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:27 +0000 http://arc.local/items/crisis-and-creativity-the-new-cinemas-of-portugal-greece-and-spain/ Continued]]> This article examines the new cinemas, film cultures and discourses emerging from
three of the film-producing nations most adversely affected by the Eurozone crisis.
Through case studies arising from Portugal, Greece and Spain, the article explores the
enhanced visibility of independent film-making at a time in which the role and the
very survival of the state-subsidized film industries in recession Europe has been
crucially thrown into question. This comparative analysis suggests, conversely, the
cyclical nature of the discourse of crisis and explores the creative responses mobilized
by European cinema.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/portugal-is-not-greece-policy-responses-to-the-sovereign-debt-crisis-and-the-consequences-for-the-portuguese-political-economy/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:27 +0000 http://arc.local/items/portugal-is-not-greece-policy-responses-to-the-sovereign-debt-crisis-and-the-consequences-for-the-portuguese-political-economy/ Continued]]> This paper delineates the changing environment from a benevolent to a conditionality-oriented. It uses the case study of Portugal and the implementation of the austerity programme to show how a semi-peripheral country of the European Union (EU) reacted to this changed environment. The first section shows how the EU has become more divided due to the growing cleavage between rich and poor member states. This is followed by the section on the making of the growing tensions between the European partners and the International Monetary Fund. Subsequently, the semi-peripheral economy of Portugal is analysed, before the policy responses of the Portuguese government are presented.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/political-representation-in-bailed-out-southern-europe-greece-and-portugal-compared/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:25 +0000 http://arc.local/items/political-representation-in-bailed-out-southern-europe-greece-and-portugal-compared/ Continued]]> The emergence of the economic and financial crisis has already shown important electoral and political consequences in southern Europe. Drawing on the experience of two bailed-out countries, Greece and Portugal, we use original data collected before and after 2008 to examine how patterns of political representation have changed during this period. We argue that austerity measures have significantly affected the way MPs represent their electorates, namely in terms of policy congruence. In addition, the economic crisis has also deepened the legitimacy crisis in both countries. Finally, we find that the short-term impact of the crisis has had a greater impact on voters’ attitudes than on those of their representatives.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/awakening-the-sleeping-giant-in-greece-and-portugal-elites-and-voters-attitudes-towards-eu-integration-in-difficult-economic-times/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:25 +0000 http://arc.local/items/awakening-the-sleeping-giant-in-greece-and-portugal-elites-and-voters-attitudes-towards-eu-integration-in-difficult-economic-times/ Continued]]> This article explores the extent to which the economic crisis and political responses of the European Union (EU) to austerity policies have contributed to Euroscepticism in Greece and Portugal. We analyse attitudes towards the EU at both voter and elite levels using fresh and innovative data, and by comparing them with data from surveys conducted before the crisis we show assessments of austerity and the bailouts are feeding elite and voter Euroscepticism. In both countries there are signs of a crisis of representation with greater voter–elite incongruence in the representation of EU issues than before the bailout.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/reconceptualizing-social-work-in-times-of-crisis-an-examination-of-the-cases-of-greece-spain-and-portugal/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:25 +0000 http://arc.local/items/reconceptualizing-social-work-in-times-of-crisis-an-examination-of-the-cases-of-greece-spain-and-portugal/ Continued]]> What started as a peripheral banking crisis in 2008 within five years triggered the deepest recession Europe has seen in decades, escalating to manifold socio-political crises. Under these circumstances, many social workers find themselves in a situation of extreme pressure and insecurity. Traditional theories and orthodox practices are now challenged by frontline social workers. This article explores such a ‘reconceptualization’ process, evaluating recent developments and changes in Spanish, Portuguese and Greek social work. We argue that the current crisis has generated a profound (re)politicization of social workers which leads to the redefinition of the core values and principles of social work.

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