From Banks’ Rescue to Austerity Policy: Linking People Protests and Political Change in Europe and the USA.
Submitted by PeriGabi on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 10:56pm
Panel Abstract:
After bailing out banks and insurance companies, states are giving priority to staving off inflation and slashing social spending to deal with budget deficits, while ignoring high levels of unemployment. The costs of the crisis are being imposed on those who can least afford to pay, while those responsible are becoming ever richer. Thus, the measures to control financial markets are inadequate to prevent new financial breakdowns. In France, the most widespread mobilization since May 1968 occurred in 2010, yet it proved unable to prevent cutbacks in retirement benefits. Mobilizations also occurred throughout Europe. These movements not only oppose the dismantling of social benefits but demand a new mode of development. Even as authoritarian regimes are swept away in North Africa and the Middle East, the challenge for progressives in Europe and the U.S. is to challenge home-grown authoritarianism. How can the slogan of power to the people be translated into progressive actions?
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- O. Panel Session 7—Sunday 3:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
- Chrystel Le Moing-Gabriel Peri Foundation
- Approved
- Daniel Cirera-Gabriel Peri Foundation
- John Mason–William Paterson University
- Mark Kesselman–Columbia University
- Richard Wolff-University of Massachusetts
- Trudy Goldberg—National Jobs for All Coalition
- 139
- LHS
Panel Abstract:
After bailing out banks and insurance companies, states are giving priority to staving off inflation and slashing social spending to deal with budget deficits, while ignoring high levels of unemployment. The costs of the crisis are being imposed on those who can least afford to pay, while those responsible are becoming ever richer. Thus, the measures to control financial markets are inadequate to prevent new financial breakdowns. In France, the most widespread mobilization since May 1968 occurred in 2010, yet it proved unable to prevent cutbacks in retirement benefits. Mobilizations also occurred throughout Europe. These movements not only oppose the dismantling of social benefits but demand a new mode of development. Even as authoritarian regimes are swept away in North Africa and the Middle East, the challenge for progressives in Europe and the U.S. is to challenge home-grown authoritarianism. How can the slogan of power to the people be translated into progressive actions?
Go Back to Search for Panels by Topic
