Greek Crisis & Human Rights

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    EPOKA UNIVERSITY

    FACULTY OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES AND ECONOMICS

    DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL

    RELATIONS

    HUMAN RIGHTS & HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS

    TITLE:

    HUMAN RIGHTS IN GREEK CRISIS

    PREPARED BY: M. ESAT DURUSOY

    COURSES LECTURER: ASST.PROF.DR. BEKIR CINAR

    TIRANA 2013

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    Abstract

    In 2009 the notification of the government, of George Papandreou, was come forward that

    the preceding governments have been understating the fiscal parameters about the

    countrys debts. This confession has brought about a huge echo and led the deterioration of

    Greek economy started. Concisely, Greece has a 300 billion debt in total, without rescue&

    bailout programs. The European Union has released numerous bailing-out programs in

    affiliation with the International Monetary Fund. A real challenge is to keep the human rights

    away from the side- effects of the adaptations and measurements of the harsh austerities.

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    TABLE OF CONTENT

    1. INTRODUCTION

    2. WHAT IS THE GREEK CRISIS ABOUT?

    3. HUMAN RIGHTS IN GREECE OF CRISIS

    4. CONCLUSION

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    1. IntroductionNowadays we are witnessing a precedent event, especially, for the European Union

    history; the Greek Crisis. First time a state has failed to fulfill its duties and led the rest of the

    member states into a serious trouble. This development has highly attracted the attentions

    to itself in the global level. Every party is carefully watching and observing the reactions and

    the measurements, and is preparing themselves for the consequences.

    This event has been a milestone for the European Union as both evaluating the

    current function and assessing the future of it. As they are struggling with solving the

    problem, they should not violate the very own supported human rights. This concept makes

    this issue even more sensitive.

    In this paper we are going to have a glance at the Greek Crisis and take the

    humanitarian aspect of it into evaluation, by using secondary sources in a quantitative

    method.

    2. What is the Greek Crisis About?In 2009 the notification of the government, of George Papandreou, was come

    forward that the preceding governments have been understating the fiscal parameters

    about the countrys debts. (Armitstead, 2012) This confession has brought about a huge

    echo and led the deterioration of Greek economy started. First the creditworthiness of the

    Greece has been demolished and subsequently other market capitals withdrawn their

    ongoing applications with the enthusiasm of the rest of the entrepreneurs and loan

    suppliers.

    Analysts assert that the adaptation of the European Monetary Union, in 2001, was

    too much for the Greek economic capability, and this struggle would, eventually, break out

    into a failure and even a catastrophe. (D'Amore, 2012) We also should take into

    consideration the outbreak of the global crisis of the United States in 2007 has escalated the

    emergence of the Greek financial crisis. However some other analysts argue that the Greek

    economic structure was already weak and prone to fail, without needing an external effect,

    the inappropriate policies of Greek governments about debts, armed competition,

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    privatization and distribution of the income; it was inevitable to face such kind of

    troublesome condition. (D'Amore, 2012)

    Pic-1.1 Effects of the crisis (http://www.theatlantic.com13.01.2013)

    Concisely, Greece has a 300 billion debt in total, without rescue& bailout programs,

    mostly towards Eurozone Banks especially the banks in Germany and France. (Armitstead,

    2012)In order both to redeem Greece and to keep the self-esteem of themselves in the

    international arena, the European Union has released numerous bailing-out programs in

    affiliation with the International Monetary Fund.

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    Pic-1.2 Discontent in Greece (http://www.theatlantic.com13.01.2013)

    From 2009 the dissatisfaction of the austerities, protests and clashes started. In 2010

    two more measurements were employed. In order to alleviate the heavy burden of Greece

    the first bail-out package was approved on condition of a harsher austerity measures. In

    2011 a newer and harder austerity in the state budget was adapted. In following times the

    European Union offered a new package with strict measures. The Prime Minister George

    Papandreou put this offer in referendum and this action cost his job and had to resign.

    (Allen, 2011)

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    Pic-1.3 (http://www.theatlantic.com13.01.2013)

    The new interim Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has agreed on a new bail-out

    package with a severe austerity measures as well, in 2012. No matter how many

    governments have been changed, the conditions have not changed and got even worse. In

    2012 the new coalition government decided to apply a new heavier austerity for 2013

    budget.

    During these austerities Greece many times faced with the danger of getting out of

    money, literally.

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    3. Human Rights in Greece of CrisisComing to the human rights and humanitarian intervention aspect of the event, we

    can start with the outcomes of the Greek Crisis and its effects on its very own people.

    After getting crashed by the severe crisis atmosphere the Greek government has

    employed a number of precautions and austerity in order to recover the economy leaks. But

    these harsh austerities have caused counter reactions. Many demonstrations and strikes

    have been held even people got injured by the police interfere.

    During these successive austerities the inflation rates have been peaked, the price of

    goods has been increased as well as the unemployment rate.

    In 2011 there were 1,025,900 unemployed people according to Greek Statistical

    Authority meaning that around 21% of unemployment rate and was kept as 21.7% in 2012.

    (Anon., 2012)

    Regarding these developments, the question of how legal these austerities are in the

    concept of Human Rights. In 2011 The UN Independent Expert on Human Rights, Cephas

    Lumnia argued that the austerities suggested by International Monetary Fund, the European

    Union and the European Central Bank would lead serious basic human rights violations of

    Greek people. (Anon., 2011) All together with the basic human rights of people, the rights of

    adequate nourishment, housing and employment should be provided by the states; while in

    the present Greece the conditions are getting worse and the government is reducing the

    social services and abandoning a lot of people unemployed and vulnerable. Moreover for the

    sake of the economic recovery, the government follows the way of rising taxes, cutting

    public expenditure and leaving vital social services into the hands of private capitals.

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    Pic-2.1 People cannot afford basic goods or find them. (http://www.theatlantic.com

    13.01.2013)

    No matter how bad condition is the state under; these basic human rights, especially

    in a European Union country, should not be compromised under any excuses. Mr. Lumnia

    also charges them responsible if the basic human rights are violated as a result of these

    austerities. He also adds that there will be no lasting solution to the sovereign debt problem

    if the human rights of the people are not taken into account. (Anon., 2011)

    4. ConclusionGreece of Crisis has been facing drastic economic and social conditions. These

    circumstances led not only Greek government but also the other fellow member states of

    European Union into a hard stalemate.

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    First they found themselves in the dilemma of whether getting aid from International

    Monetary Fund which would harm their reputation, or try to save Greece on their own

    knowing the potential risk of default and contagious effect.

    On the other hand, since, they are the supporter and provider of Democracy Human

    Rights; they have to deal with this issue without harming the spirit of all these values. The

    economic debt and the crisis, in a way, would be solved but the real challenge is to keep the

    human rights away from the side- effects of the adaptations and measurements of the harsh

    austerities.

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