Intelligence Squared Intelligence Squared Recommends – Change Makers, with Yanis Varoufakis
Mar 4, 2021
In this engaging conversation, Yanis Varoufakis, an outspoken economist and former Greek finance minister, discusses his provocative views on the European Union. He shares his vision for an 'another now' and explains why he chose to enter politics against the establishment. Varoufakis blends philosophy with his critique of capitalism, referencing Star Trek as a model for Marxist ideals. Alongside interviewer Michael Heyman, they delve into the complexities of political activism and the necessity for alternative economic systems in a world grappling with inequality.
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Varoufakis's "No" to the EU
- Yanis Varoufakis's "no" to the EU stemmed from his Europeanist concerns.
- He opposed measures he believed were against European interests.
Debt Restructuring over Career
- Yanis Varoufakis prioritized restructuring Greece's debt over his political career.
- His focus was to help the Greek people escape their debt burden, rejecting further loans with austerity conditions.
Star Trek's Philosophical Communism
- Yanis Varoufakis finds Star Trek fascinating as a modern take on philosophical questions.
- He sees it as a communist society that's also liberal, with technological abundance enabling philosophical pursuits.
