Germany's Strategic Narrative of the Eurozone Crisis

This article outlines how Germany has sought to project a strategic narrative of the Eurozone crisis. Germany has been placed center stage in the Eurozone crisis, and as a consequence, the German government's crisis narrative matters for the future of the common currency. We highlight how the German government has sought to narrate a story of the cause of the Eurozone crisis and present policy solutions to influence policy decisions within the EU and maintain domestic political support. This focus on the public communication of the crisis is central to understanding the development of Germany's policy as it was negotiated with EU partners, the U.S. and international financial institutions. We draw on speeches and interviews by Chancellor Angela Merkel and two of her senior cabinet ministers delivered at key moments of the Eurozone crisis between May 2010 and June 2012. The article argues that while Merkel and her governments have been able to shore up domestic support for her Eurozone policies, she has struggled to find a coherent strategic narrative that is both consistent with German domestic preferences and historical memory, and with those of other Eurozone members.</jats:p

The EU tells a good story about itself, but its Asian partners may not be hearing it

How do countries in Asia view the European Union? Drawing on a new study, Ben O'Loughlin, Natalia Chaban and Alister Miskimmon show that Asian elites see the EU as an important partner, but do not buy into the EU's own narrative that Europe is a peaceful continent whose ability to overcome war offers a model for others

A review of the impact of foreign aid on domestic saving

This paper tried to review the main literature on foreign aid and domestic saving in developing countries between 2000 and 2013, both theoretical and empirical literature. The main arguments of scholars in this area are reviewed. There are two opposite arguments on how the foreign aid affects domestic saving. In one side, scholars argue that foreign aid can be stimulant for economic growth through domestic saving. On the other hand, other scholars strongly argue that rather than being stimulant for the economic growth and improve the life of the society, foreign aid may able the dictator governments in developing countries to finance their political regime and increases corruption. The inconsistency and disagreement on the impact of foreign aid may result due to the difference in estimation techniques, control variables, and the aggregate estimation for the whole developing countries and for a specific region like Sub-Saharan Africa since countries are very different in political ideology and governance, economic policy and social structures

Nothing Is True? The Credibility of News and Conflicting Narratives during “Information War” in Ukraine

In international politics, the strategic narratives of different governments compete for public attention and support. The Russian government’s narrative has prompted western concern due to fears that it exerts a destabilizing effect on societies in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. However, the behavior and thought processes of news consumers targeted by contradictory strategic narratives are rarely subjected to analysis. This paper examines how Ukrainian news consumers decide where to get their news and what to believe in a media environment where “propaganda” and “disinformation” are regarded as major threats to national security. Evidence comes from thirty audio-diaries and in-depth interviews conducted in 2016 among adult residents of Odesa Region. Through qualitative analysis of the diary and interview transcripts, the paper reveals how participants judged the credibility of news and narratives based on their priorities (what they considered important), not just “facts” (what they believed had happened). The attribution of importance to different foreign policy issues was associated, in turn, with varying personal experiences, memories, and individual cross-border relationships