A rock and a hard place
Some in the government believe the best way to strengthen its negotiating position is to stir public opinion against the country’s most powerful partners and creditors. There are two serious problems with this premise. The first is the risk of side effects that cannot be controlled, leading to the government painting itself into a corner where it has no choice to compromise or to manipulate developments. We have seen this happen before, with devastating consequences. It is also impossible for any party to reach a deal with another that is cast as a monster.
The second problem is the backlash from citizens and politicians in the countries making decisions which affect us. They could be led into a show a force that would demand an unyielding, if not openly hostile, stance toward Greece.
If things escalate, Athens could find itself trapped between a public that is no longer willing to accept compromises and partners who aren’t interested in keeping Greece in the eurozone.
