The Eurozone crisis’ impact: a de-Europeanization of Greek and Portuguese foreign policies?

This article compares the impact of the Eurozone crisis on the foreign policies of Greece and Portugal from a de-Europeanization perspective. These two Southern European countries were significantly Europeanized in the past and both suffered greatly from the Euro crisis. Focusing on the Troika period and on relations with China, the article shows that both Greece and Portugal’s foreign policies towards Beijing went through an important degree of de-Europeanization during the Eurozone crisis. Such effect was, however, more intense and durable in the case of Greece, much driven by domestic politics. These national factors were intimately connected with exogenous drivers, such as EU-level developments and Beijing’s agency, both more relevant for illuminating the case of Portugal. Ultimately, the Eurozone crisis strengthened the influence of external actors like China over EU foreign policy-making, working as a complementary driver of de-Europeanization.This article is based upon work from COST-Action ENTER (CA17119), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). António Raimundo´s contribution was also supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under Grant SFRH/BPD/99579/2014

The impact of the international financial and economic crisis on the (de)Europeanization of national foreign policies in the Mediterranean

The concept of Europeanization has developed considerably since its initial phase in the early 1990s when the focus was on analyzing the impact of EU (then EEC) membership. New conceptual tools like downloading, uploading, and crossloading have enriched that particular debate dealing with most policy areas and institutional arrangements. The question of the impact of Europeanization on national foreign policies has also now fully become part of the academic literature. Indeed, to date, there exists an important academic literature on the Europeanization of the foreign and security policies of European Union (EU) member states. In one of the latest studies available, covering ten member states of the then 27-EU, Hill and Wong1 provided the following comparative conclusions in relation to the degree and type of (de) Europeanization occurring

The period after 2002: the tightening of relations between iran and Turkey and the future prospects

The course of Iran-Turkey relations over the past thirty years, reflects in some way two wider global changes. First, the reduction of securitization for the sake of economic cooperation, and second, the increasing importance of regional co-operation as a result of the emergence of a multi-polar world. The tightening of Turkey’s relations with Iran began to strengthen after 2002.The reasons that led to this empowerment were the following: first, the rise to power of the moderate Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the emergence, a bit later, of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as prime minister. Second, the presence of the United States in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Third, the convergence of Turkey’s and Iran’s foreign policies of Turkey and Iran on the issues of Middle East. Fourth, Turkey’s disappointment with West and the shape of a new foreign policy towards the Middle East. Fifth, economic criteria have also played a role. Intense cooperation between the two states seems to be suspended from 2011 due to certain problems that came up. These problems are: First, Iran’s refusal to make economic concessions to Turkey. Secondly, the re-emergence of their prolonged competition in the broadest region of the Middle East, especially after the Arab Spring. However, the most decisive factor in the Iran-Turkey relations proved to be the armed insurgency of the Sunnis against the Syrian regime, although both countries are working together to combat Kurdish nationalism

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY AMONG ASIAN COMMUNITIES IN GREECE

This article analyses the presence of the population of Asian origin in Greece, a relatively recent phenomenon on which academic studies and available statistics are still fairly scarce. Following an analysis of the available sources, and based on their own research, the authors reach the conclusion that while it is from being the majority case, it is clear that Asian communities are notable for their autonomous professional and entrepreneurial activity in Greece, and furthermore that unlike other communities with a strongpresence in the country (i.e Albanians), Asians seek to differentiate themselves from their welcoming society by emphasising the ethnic nature of their business so as to specifically lend added value to their entrepreneurial practices. This creates new economic structures that have a positive impact on the Greek economy, which is invigorated by an increase in the number of workers, companies and taxpayers, at the same time as it transforms the urban landscape by revitalising (for example) some of Athens’ most depressed neighbourhoods. These Asian diasporas, even though they display several common features, also have great differences which determine both their strategies for progressing in the welcoming society and their chances of achieving same. The underlying argument in the analysis is that the presence of the Asian diaspora represents a positive element for the Greek economy, in view of which the government should react by encouraging their integration and maximising their potential

Eldorado or fortress? Migration in Southern Europe

Within the ever-changing global map of migrations, Southern Europe has come to occupy a pivotal place: formerly a region of mass emigration overseas and to Northern Europe; now, since the 1980s, a region of mass immigration. The migrants come from many source areas - North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. As Europe struggles to control immigration from the developing world, the EU's southern flank is perceived as the weak link of `Fortress Europe'. With a balanced and detailed coverage of the situation in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece, this book examines the many facets of Southern Europe's new status as a region of large-scale immigration. Amongst the topics covered are the diverse roles played by immigrants in Southern European labour markets; issues of social and spatial exclusion; migration and gender relations; the generally slow evolution of policies of control, management and integration of immigrants; and the wider strategic concerns of security, trade and geopolitics