Greece and the Limits of European Solidarity

Abstract

This paper examines some recent arguments put forward by economists and philosophers that purport to show that Europeans owe Greece some form of solidarity. The paper distinguishes two different firms of solidarity: justice-based solidarity and remedial solidarity. It argues that Europeans -- working through their institutions -- owe the Greeks only remedial solidarity, but only insofar as they actually harmed the Greeks through imposing upon them a dysfunctional monetary union, an exploitative bailout program, or a damaging form of austerity.