Dr Costas Laoutides, lecturer in International Relations at Deakin University (photo), will give a lecture on the European crisis, Greece and the challenges top and security, on Thursday, 17 September 2015, at the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture, as part of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s seminar series of Greek History and Culture.

The global financial crisis and the public debt crisis in the periphery of Europe including Greece had a tremendous impact on the European Union as it exposed the significant weaknesses and assumptions upon which the project of European integration was built since the end of the Second World War.

The deepening crisis has reawaken local nationalisms, as in Scotland and Catalonia, and has contributed to the rise in popularity of extreme-right movements which question on a political level the validity and effectiveness of the EU.

In addition, the escalation in Crimea and East Ukraine, the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa, and the waves of refugees and asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean constitute a perilous triptych of external security challenges for Greece and Europe.

“This paper is in three parts. First I revisit the theoretical and political underpinnings of the European integration as an effort to promote peace and security in the post-Second World War Europe. Second, I discuss the core pathogenies of the European framework vis-à-vis regional peace and security highlighting the core assumptions of the project. Finally, I analyse the key internal and external security challenges that will affect the future of Europe and Greece,” Dr Laoutides noted.

Dr Costas Laoutides in a Lecturer in International Relations, Deakin University. He holds a PhD in International Politics, Department of International Politics, University of Wales, Aberystywth, and a Masters in International Conflict Analysis, University of Kent at Canterbury.

He was granted the EH Carr Scholarship for doctoral studies, Aberystwyth and an Economic and Social Research Council Scholarship for advanced postgraduate studies, Kent. He is the author of “Self-Determination and Collective Responsibility in the Secessionist Struggle” (Ashgate) and editor of “Territorial Separatism in Global Politics” (Routledge).

The Greek Community of Melbourne and the organising Committee of the Seminars wish to thank the sponsors Dr Marinis & Mrs Maria Pirpiris, Ms Maria Dikaios and Mr Konstantinos and Ms Anastasia Kostas. 

When: Thursday, 17 September 2015, 7.00pm

Where: Greek Centre, Mezzanine Level, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Language: English

Entry: Free