
The Global Minotaur
America, Europe and the Future of the World Economy
Yanis Varoufakis(Author)
Zed Books Ltd (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 14. February 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-1-78032-450-0 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
In this remarkable and provocative book, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis explodes the myth that financialisation, ineffectual regulation of banks, greed and globalisation were the root causes of both the Eurozone crisis and the global economic crisis. Rather, they are symptoms of a much deeper malaise which can be traced all the way back to the Great Crash of 1929, then on through to the 1970s: the time when a 'Global Minotaur' was born. Just as the Athenians maintained a steady flow of tributes to the Cretan beast, so Europe and the rest of the world began sending incredible amounts of capital to America and Wall Street. Thus, the Global Minotaur became the 'engine' that pulled the world economy from the early 1980s through to the financial collapse of 2008.
Today's deepening crisis in Europe is just one of the inevitable symptoms of the weakening Minotaur; of a global 'system' which is now as unsustainable as it is imbalanced. Going beyond this, Varoufakis lays out the options available to us for reintroducing a modicum of reason into a highly irrational global economic order.
An essential account of the socio-economic events and hidden histories that have shaped the world as we now know it.
Today's deepening crisis in Europe is just one of the inevitable symptoms of the weakening Minotaur; of a global 'system' which is now as unsustainable as it is imbalanced. Going beyond this, Varoufakis lays out the options available to us for reintroducing a modicum of reason into a highly irrational global economic order.
An essential account of the socio-economic events and hidden histories that have shaped the world as we now know it.
Reviews / Votes
Yanis Varoufakis is a rare economist: skilled at explaining ideas, happy to join in public debates and able to put his discipline in a broader context. * Aditya Chakrabortty, Guardian lead economics writer * The emerging rock-star of Europe's anti-austerity uprising * Daily Telegraph * In the most comprehensive guide to the contemporary economic crisis yet written, Yanis Varoufakis traces out the path from post-war US economic supremacy to the current predicament. * Gary Dymski, University of California, Riverside * Clearly and strongly written, with logical organization building towards simple conclusions, the book is an easy yet rewarding read ... perhaps should become the standard way we think about the nature of our increasingly dysfunctional world economy. * Joel Campbell, International Affairs * This trenchant and readable critique sets the eurozone crisis within a much longer context. * London Evening Standard * A spirited book. * New Yorker * If you want to know how serious the current crisis is, you should read this book. With much eloquence, Yanis Varoufakis argues that the current financial problems are connected to the emerging fault lines of the international monetary system. * Shaun Hargreaves-Heap, University of East Anglia * Yanis is one of the best, brightest and most innovative economists on the planet. * Steve Keen, author of Debunking Economics * The book is one of those exceedingly rare publications of which one can say they are urgent, timely and absolutely necessary. * Terry Eagleton * His argument has an ambitious sweep. * The Times *More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78032-450-0 (9781780324500)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Book
07/2015
3rd Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€37.32
Article exhausted; check different version
Previous edition

Book
08/2011
1st Edition
Zed Books Ltd
€37.32
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Yanis Varoufakis is Professor of Economics at the University of Athens, Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, and Economist-in-residence for Valve Corporation. Born in Athens, 1961, Varoufakis completed his secondary education in Greece before moving to England where he read mathematics and economics at the Universities of Essex and Birmingham. He has taught at various British Universities (Essex, East Anglia, Cambridge, Glasgow), and spent twelve years teaching at the University of Sydney (Australia). Recently, he has emerged as an active participant in the debates over the Global, European and Greek Crises as well as a co-founder of www.vitalspace.org
Content
Preface to the New Edition
1. Introduction
2. Laboratories of the future
3. The Global Plan
4. The Global Minotaur
5. The beast's handmaidens
6. Crash
7. The handmaidens strike back
8. The Minotaur's global legacy: the dimming sun, the wounded tigers, a flighty Europa and an anxious dragon
9. A future without the Minotaur?
1. Introduction
2. Laboratories of the future
3. The Global Plan
4. The Global Minotaur
5. The beast's handmaidens
6. Crash
7. The handmaidens strike back
8. The Minotaur's global legacy: the dimming sun, the wounded tigers, a flighty Europa and an anxious dragon
9. A future without the Minotaur?