The Political Economy and Media Coverage of the European Economic Crisis. The case of Ireland

The European economic crisis has been ongoing since 2008 and while austerity has spread over the continent is has failed to revive economies. The media have played an important ideological role in presenting the policies of economic and political elites in a favourable light, even if the latter’s aim has been to shift the burden of adjustment onto citizens. This book explains why, using a critical political economic perspective and focusing on the case of Ireland to draw conclusions often applicable to Europe and the United States. Throughout, Ireland is compared with contemporary and historical examples to contextualise the arguments made.

This book covers the housing bubble that led to the crash, the rescue of financial institutions by the state, the role of the European Union and International Monetary Fund, austerity, and the possibility of leaving the eurozone for Europe’s peripheral countries.

Contents:
+ 1. Introduction: theoretical and methodological framework + 2. The European and US crises
+ 3. The Irish media
+ 4. The housing bubble
+ 5. The bank guarantee and bank bailout
+ 6. The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA)
+ 7. Defaulting and leaving the Euro?
+ 8. Austerity
+ 9. Civil society protests
+ 10. The international media and the Irish crisis
+ 11. Conclusion