if there is no alternative there is no democracy

The text is a speech by Cohn-Bendit delivered in Athens on June 16, 2013, which critiques the 'neo-liberal technocracy' and austerity measures imposed on Greece. It argues that individual nation-states are powerless against the globalised economy, finance, and climate deterioration, asserting that only a united European Union can preserve social justice and democratic values. The author calls for a 'radical and responsible drive' to transform politics through energy transition, ecological transformation, and a shared European sovereignty to avoid the alternative of financial bureaucracy or populist rage.

• The author asserts that individual nation-states lack the capacity to independently manage the challenges of the globalised economy, specifically regarding financial control, climate change, and socio-economic crises.
• In Greece, austerity policies have led to severe social distress, with 26% unemployment and 3.4 million people living below the poverty line, impacting public health, education, and housing.
• The document argues that the only viable path to preserving democracy and social justice is through a united European scale, as the influence of major powers like France and Germany is predicted to decline relative to the global order.
• The author identifies potential resources for escaping the current impasse through an energy transition, the adoption of future technologies in industry, and the ecological transformation of economies.

APA

Cohn-Bendit (2013). if there is no alternative there is no democracy. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/if-there-is-no-alternative-there-is-no-democracy/

Chicago

Cohn-Bendit. if there is no alternative there is no democracy. Green European Journal, 2013. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/if-there-is-no-alternative-there-is-no-democracy/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Cohn-Bendit |title=if there is no alternative there is no democracy |publisher=Green European Journal |date=30 June 2013 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/if-there-is-no-alternative-there-is-no-democracy/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cohnbendit2013there, author = {Cohn-Bendit}, title = {{if there is no alternative there is no democracy}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2013}, month = jun, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/if-there-is-no-alternative-there-is-no-democracy/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }