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SUMMARY:European Crisis Conference\, 14-15 June\, Newnham College - Variou
 s speakers
DTSTART:20120614T160000Z
DTEND:20120614T180000Z
UID:TALK38486@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Pierre Bocquillon
DESCRIPTION:You are cordially invited to attend an international conferenc
 e on the European financial\, economic and political crisis\, to be held i
 n *Newnham College\, Cambridge\, Jane Harrison room\, on Thursday 14 and F
 riday 15 June*.\n\nThis workshop\, which is organized by the European Rese
 arch Group of the Departement of POLIS\, in cooperation with the Departmen
 ts of Sociology and Development Studies\, aims to gather both renowned spe
 cialists from various backgrounds to discuss different aspects of the curr
 ent crisis: economic causes\, financial negotiations\, political impact of
  the crisis\, socio-economic impact of austerity.\n\nThe conference includ
 es an opening discussion with Elena Panaritis\, Greek MP (2009-2012) and f
 ormer economist at the IMF and World Bank (Thursday 14\, 17.00) as well as
  three panels (Friday 15\, 9-15.30). A buffet lunch will be provided. \n\n
 All are welcome!\n\nPierre Bocquillon\, for the European research Group\n\
 n____________\n\n\nThursday 14th June\n\n\n5pm Opening Discussion \n\nElen
 a Panaritis\, Institutional Economist (World Bank\, IMF) & Member of the G
 reek Parliament  (PASOK\, 2009-2012).\n\n\n7pm  - Drinks\n\n\nFriday 15th 
 June\n\n9-10.30 am – Panel 1: Financial negotiations in times of crisis:
  the origins of the crisis\, bailouts and institutional collaboration\n\nO
 nce the repercussions of the global financial crisis that started in 2007 
 reached continental Europe in the form of a sovereign debt crisis\, it bec
 ame clear that inadequate preparations had been made for the possibility o
 f one or more countries reaching the point where they would need to be bai
 led out. Within a few months\, the European Commission\, the European Cent
 ral Bank and the International Monetary Fund – collectively known as the
  Troika – had to work together to design structural adjustment programme
 s for three countries. The dynamics of such collaboration between institut
 ions with different mandates and under intense pressure present a key area
  to explore. \n\nSpeakers:\nEilis Ferran (University of Cambridge)\, Kevin
  Featherstone (London School of Economics)\, Benjamin Angel (European Comm
 ission)\n\n\n10.30am – Coffee\n\n\n11-12.30am– Panel 2: The impact of 
 the crisis on the European political system (national and European) \n\nTh
 e European crises and adjustment policies also brought to the surface vari
 ous tensions between EU member states. As the major financial contributor 
 to the bailouts\, Germany’s input was crucial and it essentially enjoyed
  a veto power over decisions. Franco-German summits set the tone for deali
 ng with the crises and responding to pressures by financial markets initia
 lly on ‘peripheral’ Eurozone members and then on ‘core’ countries.
  This raises the issue of the impact of the crisis on the EU interinstitut
 ional and political system (role of the European Council\, of the Franco-G
 erman axis). In addition\, domestic politics of European countries became 
 entangled as politicians from countries contributing to the bailout mechan
 ism often had to battle hostile public opinion and protect their constitue
 nts/taxpayers interests. As some member states have gone through an electo
 ral period (France and Greece notably)\, the impact of the crisis on natio
 nal politics is worthy of further investigation. In Southern Europe\, tech
 nocratic governments took over in Italy and Greece\, on the presumption th
 ey had the know-how to deal with the crisis more efficiently than their el
 ected predecessors. This raises significant questions in terms of politica
 l legitimacy. \n\nSpeakers:\nBrigid Laffan (University College Dublin)\, O
 livier Evans (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)\, Claudia Crawford (Konrad-
 Adenauer-Stiftung) \n\n\n12.30pm – Lunch\n\n\n1.30-3pm – Panel 3:  The
  economic and social impacts of austerity\n\nThe effects of the global cri
 sis on welfare state provisions are visible throughout Europe\, regardless
  of the state of different countries’ public finances. The countries mos
 t affected –be it through Troika conditionality\, policymakers’ agenda
 s\, new technocratic governments or all of the above– engaged in radical
  austerity: welfare state institutions were seen as hotbeds for corruption
  and large scale readjustments started to be introduced. While evidence of
  corruption and waste are indeed evident\, in many cases the drastic scali
 ng back of welfare efforts left vulnerable groups at risk and was seen as 
 an easier way of meeting quantitative targets than raising revenue through
  taxation of those in a better position to cope with the burden of adjustm
 ent. In the mean time\, European countries in less financial trouble engag
 ed in preemptive austerity: reducing or readjusting provisions using the s
 ituation in the ‘periphery’ as an example of what generous welfare pro
 visions can lead to. This panel will discuss the social and political impa
 ct of austerity.\n\nSpeakers: Andrew Gamble (University of Cambridge)\, Jo
 nty Bloom (BBC)\, Christos Pitelis (University of Cambridge)\n\n3pm - Conc
 lusions: Athanasia Chalari (London School of Economics)\n\n
LOCATION:Newnham College\, Jane Harrisson room
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