Austerity, Human Rights Erosion and Political Radicalization: Implications for Eurozone Governance Reform

The chapter contributes to the analysis of the process of human rights and social cohesion erosion set in motion by austerity programmes in the Eurozone and to enquire about how this experience influences the current debate on the Eurozone governance reform in the context of COVID-19 crisis. The orthodox neoliberal adjustment policies imposed on several EU countries between 2010 and 2017 exacerbated economic recession, increased inequality and generated an extensive violation of human rights leading to far-reaching political radicalization. This experience has influenced the current debate on Eurozone reform functioning as a negative mirror of ineffective solutions and citizens’ distrust risks, which might contribute to the emergence of new and more adequate solutions. The main argument put forward if that a pragmatic governance reform of the Eurozone likely to be facilitated by a change in Germany’s position, is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to respond effectively to COVID-19 crisis insofar the EU has also to enhance the priority to human rights protection in order to regain citizens’ confidence and interrupt the trend of rising political influence of anti-EU radical parties which constitute one the most significant risks for the EU in the current crisis context.