This paper is concerned with the robustness of democracy within the European context during the c... more This paper is concerned with the robustness of democracy within the European context during the current economic crisis. Under what circumstances is economic crisis likely to be associated with the rise of the extreme right? Greece and Spain are both experiencing severe economic crisis. They also share many similarities often cited as prohibiting factors to the rise of extremism including a legacy of authoritarianism. However, while in Greece the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn (GD) has recently entered Parliament, in Spain there is no comparable support for extremism. Employing the most similar systems research design, we argue the impact of the current economic crisis on the political system explains why there is support for right-wing extremism in Greece but not in Spain. In Greece the crisis has resulted in the complete break-up of the party system. This has provided a structure of political opportunity for parties such as GD, absent in Spain. Greek voters have opted for GD because and not...
Πώς εξηγείται η δραματική άνοδος της εξτρεμιστικής, υπερεθνικιστικής Χρυσής Αυγής σε μια χώρα η ο... more Πώς εξηγείται η δραματική άνοδος της εξτρεμιστικής, υπερεθνικιστικής Χρυσής Αυγής σε μια χώρα η οποία βίωσε τη ναζιστική εισβολή και μια στρατιωτική δικτατορία; Αυτό το βιβλίο θέτει τη Χρυσή Αυγή στο πλαίσιο της κρίσης της Ευρωζώνης, και υποστηρίζει ότι η άνοδός της δεν είναι απλώς προϊόν της οικονομικής δυσφορίας. Αντίθετα, η επιτυχία της Χρυσής Αυγής εξαρτάται από τον βαθμό στον οποίο κατάφερε να διατυπώσει ευλογοφανείς λύσεις στις τρεις μορφές κρίσης -οικονομική, πολιτική και ιδεολογική- που κορυφώθηκαν σε μια γενική κρίση της δημοκρατίας στην Ελλάδα. Οι συγγραφείς υποστηρίζουν ότι μεγάλο μέρος της επιτυχίας του κόμματος μπορεί να αποδοθεί στην στρατηγική του επιλογή να εκμεταλλευτεί την ευρεία απογοήτευση του ελληνικού λαού προσφέροντάς του μια "εθνικιστική λύση": μια ρητορική που δίνει έμφαση στους δίδυμους φασιστικούς μύθους της κοινωνικής παρακμής και της εθνικής αναγέννησης.
Το φαινόμενο της Χρυσής Αυγής τροφοδότησε τη δημόσια συζήτηση γύρω από τον "ελληνικό εξαιρετισμό" μέσα στα πλαίσια της ευρωπαϊκής κρίσης, και οδήγησε σε ακαδημαϊκές συζητήσεις σχετικά με τις συνθήκες στην ελληνική πολιτική κουλτούρα και κοινωνία που επέτρεψαν αυτή την εξέλιξη. Αυτό το βιβλίο της Δάφνης Χαλικιοπούλου και της Σοφίας Βασιλοπούλου αποτελεί μια επίκαιρη και διαφωτιστική ακαδημαϊκή συνεισφορά στη μελέτη μιας από τις πιο ανησυχητικές διαστάσεις της ελληνικής οικονομικής και πολιτικής κρίσης. Ιωάννης Ν. Γρηγοριάδης
What explains the dramatic rise of the extreme, ultranationalist Golden Dawn in a country that ha... more What explains the dramatic rise of the extreme, ultranationalist Golden Dawn in a country that has experienced Nazi invasion and a military dictatorship? This book places the rise of the Golden Dawn in the context of the Eurozone crisis and argues that its rise is not merely the product of economic malaise. Rather, the success of the Golden Dawn is dependent on the extent to which it was able to propound plausible solutions to the three sets of crises - economic, political and ideological - that culminated in an overall crisis of democracy in Greece. The authors argue that much of the party's success can be attributed to its strategic choice to tap into the widespread disillusionment of the Greek people by offering them a 'nationalist solution': a rhetoric that emphasizes the twin fascist myths of social decadence and national rebirth.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent their
making, having the power to approve, ... more Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent their
making, having the power to approve, amend or reject the near
EU citizens about their representatives and are able to hold
little about whether, and to what extent, MEPs are visible in the
of MEPs in national broadsheets in Britain, France, the
individual-level variation by employing an original dataset of
25 months (September 2009–September 2011) and tests the
theories in the context of supranational politics. The results
domestic party leadership have a positive effect. Legislative
visibility. Attendance negatively affects news visibility, while non-
In short, despite the core supranational nature of EP legislative
primarily depends on journalists’ domestic considerations. This
parliamentary behaviour and journalism studies in the context of the EU.
"This article provides an overview and analysis of the Greek elections of June 2012. Placing the ... more "This article provides an overview and analysis of the Greek elections of June 2012. Placing the elections within the broader framework of the Greek socio-political and economic
context, it discusses the electoral campaign and results, juxtaposing them to the 6 May electoral round. The election results confirmed many of the trends of the previous round, including electoral volatility, the fragmentation of the party system and the rise of anti-establishment forces. The main difference was the entrenchment of the pro- versus anti-bailout division and the prominence of the question of Greece’s continued eurozone
membership."
Within the broader debate on the Greek crisis, the theory of ‘populist democracy’ postulates that... more Within the broader debate on the Greek crisis, the theory of ‘populist democracy’ postulates that
populism is fundamental to the sustenance of the Greek political system and is at the heart of
Greece’s endemic domestic weaknesses. This article tests this assumption empirically through the
use of a sophisticated framing analysis of speeches delivered by the leaders of the five parties in the
Greek parliament in the period 2009–11. The findings confirm that populism: (a) is expressed
through the narratives of political actors; (b) is observed across the party system; (c) is expressed
in the forms of blame-shifting and exclusivity; and (d) differs depending on position in the party
system. The article contributes to the debate by testing and building on the theory of democratic
populism, providing a novel way of measuring and operationalizing populism and identifying a
new typology that distinguishes between mainstream and fringe populism.
"Euroscepticism has been treated as a marginal phenomenon in European Union studies. It has been
... more "Euroscepticism has been treated as a marginal phenomenon in European Union studies. It has been
portrayed as exceptional, belonging to the realm of pariah politics. This article contests this view
arguing that although the term was first coined during the mid-1980s in Britain, its features were
present since the early stages of integration. Pointing to its changing nature over time, it calls for
a holistic approach that would examine the phenomenon beyond the study of party politics and
public opinion. It urges scholars to explicitly treat Euroscepticism as an ‘independent’ as well as a
‘dependent’ variable. The next generation of Euroscepticism should be performing comparative
analysis identifying and explaining different patterns of opposition to the EU, and focusing on their
implications for the process of European integration, the direction of EU policy, domestic European
politics and the development of EU studies."
This paper is concerned with the robustness of democracy within the European context during the c... more This paper is concerned with the robustness of democracy within the European context during the current economic crisis. Under what circumstances is economic crisis likely to be associated with the rise of the extreme right? Greece and Spain are both experiencing severe economic crisis. They also share many similarities often cited as prohibiting factors to the rise of extremism including a legacy of authoritarianism. However, while in Greece the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn (GD) has recently entered Parliament, in Spain there is no comparable support for extremism. Employing the most similar systems research design, we argue the impact of the current economic crisis on the political system explains why there is support for right-wing extremism in Greece but not in Spain. In Greece the crisis has resulted in the complete break-up of the party system. This has provided a structure of political opportunity for parties such as GD, absent in Spain. Greek voters have opted for GD because and not...
Πώς εξηγείται η δραματική άνοδος της εξτρεμιστικής, υπερεθνικιστικής Χρυσής Αυγής σε μια χώρα η ο... more Πώς εξηγείται η δραματική άνοδος της εξτρεμιστικής, υπερεθνικιστικής Χρυσής Αυγής σε μια χώρα η οποία βίωσε τη ναζιστική εισβολή και μια στρατιωτική δικτατορία; Αυτό το βιβλίο θέτει τη Χρυσή Αυγή στο πλαίσιο της κρίσης της Ευρωζώνης, και υποστηρίζει ότι η άνοδός της δεν είναι απλώς προϊόν της οικονομικής δυσφορίας. Αντίθετα, η επιτυχία της Χρυσής Αυγής εξαρτάται από τον βαθμό στον οποίο κατάφερε να διατυπώσει ευλογοφανείς λύσεις στις τρεις μορφές κρίσης -οικονομική, πολιτική και ιδεολογική- που κορυφώθηκαν σε μια γενική κρίση της δημοκρατίας στην Ελλάδα. Οι συγγραφείς υποστηρίζουν ότι μεγάλο μέρος της επιτυχίας του κόμματος μπορεί να αποδοθεί στην στρατηγική του επιλογή να εκμεταλλευτεί την ευρεία απογοήτευση του ελληνικού λαού προσφέροντάς του μια "εθνικιστική λύση": μια ρητορική που δίνει έμφαση στους δίδυμους φασιστικούς μύθους της κοινωνικής παρακμής και της εθνικής αναγέννησης.
Το φαινόμενο της Χρυσής Αυγής τροφοδότησε τη δημόσια συζήτηση γύρω από τον "ελληνικό εξαιρετισμό" μέσα στα πλαίσια της ευρωπαϊκής κρίσης, και οδήγησε σε ακαδημαϊκές συζητήσεις σχετικά με τις συνθήκες στην ελληνική πολιτική κουλτούρα και κοινωνία που επέτρεψαν αυτή την εξέλιξη. Αυτό το βιβλίο της Δάφνης Χαλικιοπούλου και της Σοφίας Βασιλοπούλου αποτελεί μια επίκαιρη και διαφωτιστική ακαδημαϊκή συνεισφορά στη μελέτη μιας από τις πιο ανησυχητικές διαστάσεις της ελληνικής οικονομικής και πολιτικής κρίσης. Ιωάννης Ν. Γρηγοριάδης
What explains the dramatic rise of the extreme, ultranationalist Golden Dawn in a country that ha... more What explains the dramatic rise of the extreme, ultranationalist Golden Dawn in a country that has experienced Nazi invasion and a military dictatorship? This book places the rise of the Golden Dawn in the context of the Eurozone crisis and argues that its rise is not merely the product of economic malaise. Rather, the success of the Golden Dawn is dependent on the extent to which it was able to propound plausible solutions to the three sets of crises - economic, political and ideological - that culminated in an overall crisis of democracy in Greece. The authors argue that much of the party's success can be attributed to its strategic choice to tap into the widespread disillusionment of the Greek people by offering them a 'nationalist solution': a rhetoric that emphasizes the twin fascist myths of social decadence and national rebirth.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent their
making, having the power to approve, ... more Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent their
making, having the power to approve, amend or reject the near
EU citizens about their representatives and are able to hold
little about whether, and to what extent, MEPs are visible in the
of MEPs in national broadsheets in Britain, France, the
individual-level variation by employing an original dataset of
25 months (September 2009–September 2011) and tests the
theories in the context of supranational politics. The results
domestic party leadership have a positive effect. Legislative
visibility. Attendance negatively affects news visibility, while non-
In short, despite the core supranational nature of EP legislative
primarily depends on journalists’ domestic considerations. This
parliamentary behaviour and journalism studies in the context of the EU.
"This article provides an overview and analysis of the Greek elections of June 2012. Placing the ... more "This article provides an overview and analysis of the Greek elections of June 2012. Placing the elections within the broader framework of the Greek socio-political and economic
context, it discusses the electoral campaign and results, juxtaposing them to the 6 May electoral round. The election results confirmed many of the trends of the previous round, including electoral volatility, the fragmentation of the party system and the rise of anti-establishment forces. The main difference was the entrenchment of the pro- versus anti-bailout division and the prominence of the question of Greece’s continued eurozone
membership."
Within the broader debate on the Greek crisis, the theory of ‘populist democracy’ postulates that... more Within the broader debate on the Greek crisis, the theory of ‘populist democracy’ postulates that
populism is fundamental to the sustenance of the Greek political system and is at the heart of
Greece’s endemic domestic weaknesses. This article tests this assumption empirically through the
use of a sophisticated framing analysis of speeches delivered by the leaders of the five parties in the
Greek parliament in the period 2009–11. The findings confirm that populism: (a) is expressed
through the narratives of political actors; (b) is observed across the party system; (c) is expressed
in the forms of blame-shifting and exclusivity; and (d) differs depending on position in the party
system. The article contributes to the debate by testing and building on the theory of democratic
populism, providing a novel way of measuring and operationalizing populism and identifying a
new typology that distinguishes between mainstream and fringe populism.
"Euroscepticism has been treated as a marginal phenomenon in European Union studies. It has been
... more "Euroscepticism has been treated as a marginal phenomenon in European Union studies. It has been
portrayed as exceptional, belonging to the realm of pariah politics. This article contests this view
arguing that although the term was first coined during the mid-1980s in Britain, its features were
present since the early stages of integration. Pointing to its changing nature over time, it calls for
a holistic approach that would examine the phenomenon beyond the study of party politics and
public opinion. It urges scholars to explicitly treat Euroscepticism as an ‘independent’ as well as a
‘dependent’ variable. The next generation of Euroscepticism should be performing comparative
analysis identifying and explaining different patterns of opposition to the EU, and focusing on their
implications for the process of European integration, the direction of EU policy, domestic European
politics and the development of EU studies."
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Papers by Sofia Vasilopoulou
Το φαινόμενο της Χρυσής Αυγής τροφοδότησε τη δημόσια συζήτηση γύρω από τον "ελληνικό εξαιρετισμό" μέσα στα πλαίσια της ευρωπαϊκής κρίσης, και οδήγησε σε ακαδημαϊκές συζητήσεις σχετικά με τις συνθήκες στην ελληνική πολιτική κουλτούρα και κοινωνία που επέτρεψαν αυτή την εξέλιξη. Αυτό το βιβλίο της Δάφνης Χαλικιοπούλου και της Σοφίας Βασιλοπούλου αποτελεί μια επίκαιρη και διαφωτιστική ακαδημαϊκή συνεισφορά στη μελέτη μιας από τις πιο ανησυχητικές διαστάσεις της ελληνικής οικονομικής και πολιτικής κρίσης.
Ιωάννης Ν. Γρηγοριάδης
making, having the power to approve, amend or reject the near
EU citizens about their representatives and are able to hold
little about whether, and to what extent, MEPs are visible in the
of MEPs in national broadsheets in Britain, France, the
individual-level variation by employing an original dataset of
25 months (September 2009–September 2011) and tests the
theories in the context of supranational politics. The results
domestic party leadership have a positive effect. Legislative
visibility. Attendance negatively affects news visibility, while non-
In short, despite the core supranational nature of EP legislative
primarily depends on journalists’ domestic considerations. This
parliamentary behaviour and journalism studies in the context of the EU.
context, it discusses the electoral campaign and results, juxtaposing them to the 6 May electoral round. The election results confirmed many of the trends of the previous round, including electoral volatility, the fragmentation of the party system and the rise of anti-establishment forces. The main difference was the entrenchment of the pro- versus anti-bailout division and the prominence of the question of Greece’s continued eurozone
membership."
populism is fundamental to the sustenance of the Greek political system and is at the heart of
Greece’s endemic domestic weaknesses. This article tests this assumption empirically through the
use of a sophisticated framing analysis of speeches delivered by the leaders of the five parties in the
Greek parliament in the period 2009–11. The findings confirm that populism: (a) is expressed
through the narratives of political actors; (b) is observed across the party system; (c) is expressed
in the forms of blame-shifting and exclusivity; and (d) differs depending on position in the party
system. The article contributes to the debate by testing and building on the theory of democratic
populism, providing a novel way of measuring and operationalizing populism and identifying a
new typology that distinguishes between mainstream and fringe populism.
portrayed as exceptional, belonging to the realm of pariah politics. This article contests this view
arguing that although the term was first coined during the mid-1980s in Britain, its features were
present since the early stages of integration. Pointing to its changing nature over time, it calls for
a holistic approach that would examine the phenomenon beyond the study of party politics and
public opinion. It urges scholars to explicitly treat Euroscepticism as an ‘independent’ as well as a
‘dependent’ variable. The next generation of Euroscepticism should be performing comparative
analysis identifying and explaining different patterns of opposition to the EU, and focusing on their
implications for the process of European integration, the direction of EU policy, domestic European
politics and the development of EU studies."
Το φαινόμενο της Χρυσής Αυγής τροφοδότησε τη δημόσια συζήτηση γύρω από τον "ελληνικό εξαιρετισμό" μέσα στα πλαίσια της ευρωπαϊκής κρίσης, και οδήγησε σε ακαδημαϊκές συζητήσεις σχετικά με τις συνθήκες στην ελληνική πολιτική κουλτούρα και κοινωνία που επέτρεψαν αυτή την εξέλιξη. Αυτό το βιβλίο της Δάφνης Χαλικιοπούλου και της Σοφίας Βασιλοπούλου αποτελεί μια επίκαιρη και διαφωτιστική ακαδημαϊκή συνεισφορά στη μελέτη μιας από τις πιο ανησυχητικές διαστάσεις της ελληνικής οικονομικής και πολιτικής κρίσης.
Ιωάννης Ν. Γρηγοριάδης
making, having the power to approve, amend or reject the near
EU citizens about their representatives and are able to hold
little about whether, and to what extent, MEPs are visible in the
of MEPs in national broadsheets in Britain, France, the
individual-level variation by employing an original dataset of
25 months (September 2009–September 2011) and tests the
theories in the context of supranational politics. The results
domestic party leadership have a positive effect. Legislative
visibility. Attendance negatively affects news visibility, while non-
In short, despite the core supranational nature of EP legislative
primarily depends on journalists’ domestic considerations. This
parliamentary behaviour and journalism studies in the context of the EU.
context, it discusses the electoral campaign and results, juxtaposing them to the 6 May electoral round. The election results confirmed many of the trends of the previous round, including electoral volatility, the fragmentation of the party system and the rise of anti-establishment forces. The main difference was the entrenchment of the pro- versus anti-bailout division and the prominence of the question of Greece’s continued eurozone
membership."
populism is fundamental to the sustenance of the Greek political system and is at the heart of
Greece’s endemic domestic weaknesses. This article tests this assumption empirically through the
use of a sophisticated framing analysis of speeches delivered by the leaders of the five parties in the
Greek parliament in the period 2009–11. The findings confirm that populism: (a) is expressed
through the narratives of political actors; (b) is observed across the party system; (c) is expressed
in the forms of blame-shifting and exclusivity; and (d) differs depending on position in the party
system. The article contributes to the debate by testing and building on the theory of democratic
populism, providing a novel way of measuring and operationalizing populism and identifying a
new typology that distinguishes between mainstream and fringe populism.
portrayed as exceptional, belonging to the realm of pariah politics. This article contests this view
arguing that although the term was first coined during the mid-1980s in Britain, its features were
present since the early stages of integration. Pointing to its changing nature over time, it calls for
a holistic approach that would examine the phenomenon beyond the study of party politics and
public opinion. It urges scholars to explicitly treat Euroscepticism as an ‘independent’ as well as a
‘dependent’ variable. The next generation of Euroscepticism should be performing comparative
analysis identifying and explaining different patterns of opposition to the EU, and focusing on their
implications for the process of European integration, the direction of EU policy, domestic European
politics and the development of EU studies."