The podcast discusses the selection process for The Economist's Country of the Year award and reveals Greece as the winner. It explores Greece's economic performance, centrist politics, and pro-western foreign policy. The chapter also delves into the writer's fascination with train travel and the importance of exploring beyond tourist destinations to understand Europe better.
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Greece wins The Economist's Country of the Year Award for its economic recovery, social contract rebuilding, and pro-European and pro-American foreign policy.
Countries like Moldova, Finland, Sweden, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea have stood up to foreign bullies and asserted their own security and territorial rights.
Deep dives
The Economist's Country of the Year Award
The podcast episode discusses The Economist's annual Country of the Year Award, which recognizes a country that has shown improvement and pursued policies in its long-term interest. The award focuses on three categories: countries standing up to foreign bullies, defenders of liberal values at home, and countries returning to centrist politics. Greece is announced as the winner for its economic recovery, social contract rebuilding, and pro-European and pro-American foreign policy.
Countries Standing Up to Foreign Powers
The podcast highlights countries that have stood up to foreign bullies, with a special mention to Moldova, Finland, Sweden, the Philippines, and Japan and South Korea. These countries have demonstrated a growing realization of the threats posed by Russia and China and have taken steps to assert their own security and territorial rights.
Defenders of Liberal Values and Political Stability
The episode identifies countries that have defended liberal values and achieved political stability. Examples include Liberia and Kenya, which witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and Timor-Leste, which held free, fair, and violence-free parliamentary elections. Despite challenges and contested elections, these countries showcased progress towards democracy and demonstrated the potential for power transitions and democratic institutions in difficult contexts.
Which country improved the most this year? Nominations poured in from across the editorial department, and the competition was tough, but who came out on top? And our correspondent takes us on a train ride through Europe
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