187. Yanis Varoufakis: How The 2008 Crisis Revived Far-Right Populism
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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2008 was our generation's 1929.
You're basically saying that that is what has in part led to the kind of global mess that we're in now. That is what gave us Trumpets, what gave us Brexit, what's giving us the rise of the far right in Europe.
Absolutely. Absolutely. You have a situation where the left failed and the liberal establishment failed. That led to the fascists rising up through the woodwork.
You said the reason why Europe is going down the drain. Is Europe going down the drain? Oh yeah, it's gone, finished.
How did the 2008 financial crisis compare to the 1929 Wall Street Crash?
Because of what you call socialism for the banks and austerity for the people?
You do this if you want to destroy a continent. This is what we did. This was the crime against Europe.
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What factors contributed to the rise of far-right populism after the 2008 crisis?
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Welcome to Restful Politics Leading with me, Rory Stewart. And with me, Alastair Campbell. And I think I'm right that the first and only Greek we've had on the podcast was Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who's the current centre-right prime minister. Today's guest, Yanis Varoufakis, is someone with a very different politics, a very different view of the economy and how it should work. He's had a lifetime studying, teaching and writing about economics. But he became a prominent political figure well beyond Greece when he was their finance minister during the financial crisis, which pitted him against the giants of France, Germany, the global banks, the IMF and more. He resigned after winning an anti-austerity referendum.
He's returned to writing and since established a party in Greece and the pan-European movement and is a regular contributor to political debate around the world.
Is Europe facing an economic decline due to austerity measures?
So it's a pleasure meeting to have him here. So we normally start by asking our guests about their childhood, but you yesterday celebrated your 65th birthday. And you were telling me before we started recording, you did it with an amazing event, which sounds like with some very interesting guests. And I'm going to spring a bit of surprise on you, including the owner of your favorite ears on the planet. Oh, no. I'll tell you what that means in a minute.
Well, let me first put it in context, right? Okay. Ten years ago, we had booked one of the most wonderful theatres in Berlin, the Volksbühne Theatre, where we inaugurated DiEM25, our movement, Democracy in Europe movement, together with people who were there last night, like Brian Eno and quite a few others. And last night, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of that movement, that failed movement, but very, you know, I think still significant movement, at the Troxie Theatre. in the East End of London. And, you know, we have 2,000 people. But I suspect what you want me to talk, to worry about is the fact that I've managed, we've managed, Team 25, to put on stage together Zach Polanski and Jeremy Corbyn.
Just to give you the context, Zach Polanski, who Rory had a really interesting spiky spat in this very studio when Zach Polanski was sitting here. And Jeremy Corbyn, who Rory described in his book on politics as a man with beautiful ears.
Well, that was the last kind of compliment I would have expected. Look, Jeremy is a great friend. He's been a friend for many, many years.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:41
2
How did the 2008 financial crisis compare to the 1929 Wall Street Crash?
0:41–1:14
3
What factors contributed to the rise of far-right populism after the 2008 crisis?
1:14–1:31
4
What role did the left and liberal establishment play in the rise of fascism?
1:31–2:39
5
Is Europe facing an economic decline due to austerity measures?
2:39–21:19
6
How did Yanis Varoufakis transition from academia to politics?
21:19–21:37
7
What were the consequences of the Greek referendum on austerity?
21:37–1:15:22
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from The Rest Is Politics: Leading
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