Greek Crisis & Human Rights
Transcript of 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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