Can the ‘Cradle of Democracy’ be a focal point to examine the impact and answers to new social challenges?
Since the 19th century, the economic and social disadvantages and the plight of entire population groups in times of social change have been discussed particularly in German-language discourse under the heading of «The Social Question». However, with the outbreak of the global financial and economic crisis in 2007, the social question has finally landed in the 21st century. Mass unemployment, poverty, homelessness or parents who can no longer adequately care for their children in a wealthy Europe are no longer ghosts from the past. At present, little is being done to prevent the dismantling of welfare state structures even in a land known as being the birthplace of democracy and European philosophy.
In the wake of job losses, pension cuts and rent increases in Athens and elsewhere in Europe, it is not only people from the often so called lower classes who can no longer rely on their own gainful employment to secure a livelihood. They cannot rely on state institutions and public aid to provide for them either and have realized that they have to take their lives and futures into their own hands. Mutual support, civil engagement and visible political resistance can be observed in Athens as concrete reactions to these continuing social and economic hardships – is solidarity the answer to this crisis?
During all the years of the European banking and financial crisis meanwhile institutions, politicians and scholars have been debating about the causes and resolutions to the crisis, the people in Greece and Athens have been experiencing the effects firsthand.
The Social Question in the Cradle of Democracy – a radiofeature about Athens and its citizens in times of crisis. September 2018
A production in the context of the study trip of the social work master’s programme of the FHS St.Gallen, BFH Bern, HSLU Luzern und ZHAW Zürich.
With contributions from the students; Beugger Jannik; Bilang Tabea; Erni Joel; Fröhlich Andrea; Grob Cornelia; Inal Ayse Gül; Küng Johannes; Mangold Carina; Nussbaum Samuel Linus; Oezdirek Meryem; Pulver Simon; Roth Samuel; Ruf Manuela; Schmaltz Anna-Béatrice; Städler Annette; WardakSabera; Weber Matthias; Zeier Michael
Text and announcement: Matthias Weber
Technical realization: Stefan Paulus
Photo credit: Stefan Paulus
BY-C-C, Paulus/Weber; 2019