Politics

Greek debt crisis: Tsipras, Syriza and the eurozone showdown

Comment and analysis on the twists, turns and crucial questions

July 09, 2015
Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appears to have salvaged his country's financial future ©AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appears to have salvaged his country's financial future ©AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
"Drama?" "tragedy?" draw your own classical metaphor—whatever you call it, Greece's debt crisis has been a remarkable political showdown. The polarising debate between austerity and reinvestment has never been more important or clear cut as in the negotiations between the left-wing Syriza party, eurozone leaders and Greece's creditors. For the first time in history, a developed country has defaulted on its debt to the IMF. With a Brexit referendum on the horizon and the British left in turmoil, all sides of the political spectrum have been transfixed. Throughout, Prospect’s panel have been giving in-depth analysis of the volatile situation and the crucial economic and political questions it raises. As the crisis reaches its climax, read our commentary here.

How did we get here?

How Greece became Europe’s fault line

Why the nation voted OXi (No), by George Magnus.

Greece should never have joined the euro

A short-term fix is possible, but finding long-term stability will be harder, writes Vicky Pryce.

What happens when a country defaults?

Our guide to the short and long-term consequences by Jay Elwes.

What's next?

It is now Sunday or bust

If a parallel currency emerges that will be the beginning of the end, writes George Magnus

What now for Greece?

Glory is often short-lived. Financial suffering, on the other hand, can continue for generations, writes David Patrikarakos.

It’s in Britain’s interests for Greece to stay in the eurozone

Greece’s troubles are a reminder that Europe is not a happy family, writes Nick Carn.

What comes after Oxi?

Can the country win a stay of execution, asks George Magnus

The Varoufakis effect

Yanis Varoufakis was offered up as a token sacrifice

There is something abnormally pathetic about the spectacle of the forced resignation of Greek finance minister, writes James Bone.

Who is the new Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos?

What you need to know about Yanis Varoufakis's less combative successor, writes Alex Dean.

Master of inconsistency

The former Finance Minister needed to apply his economic muscle to his moral cause, writes Bronwen Maddox.

Germany's nemesis

A game theorist leads Greece's challenge to the austerity doctrine imposed by Berlin: James Bone profiles the former Finance Minister.

Referendum dramas

The Greek Referendum was a corruption of democracy

If this is how Greece takes big decisions, then should it be allowed to stay in the European Union, asks Peter Kellner.

A “No” would bring new economic darkness

Leaving the EU might not be the panacea some believe, writes George Magnus.

A No vote will be a vote to exit the euro

The situation on the ground in Greece is getting desperate, writes Vicky Pryce.