Ireland and Greece should not be in the European Union and membership has been detrimental to both countries, the author of a new book exploring the links between the nations has said.
Richard Pine said that, geographically and culturally, Ireland and Greece “do not have much in common” with the central European powers and, as peripheral countries, would always be pushed around by the likes of Germany. The financial bailouts both countries entered into were examples of the “manipulation” they face, he said.
Pine, who has contributed "Letter from Greece" columns to The Irish Times since 2009, said both countries have immensely strong cultures, but the common weakness was a lack of political leadership.
He said the situation had changed in Greece in the past nine months with the election of a left-wing government. However, Pine does not see any possibility of a radical alternative to the political structure in Ireland emerging.
“Politics here is bankrupt, and I don’t see any way out of it,” he said.
The book, Greece Through Irish Eyes, is published by the Liffey Press. It was launched last night at the United Arts Club in Dublin by Prof Brian McGing, professor of Greek at Trinity College Dublin.