From Protesting Against Troika Bailouts to Pro-EU Governing in Greece and Portugal: Europeanisation and Institutionalisation Processes

Following bailouts by the Troika (EC, ECB and IMF) due to the 2008 global financial crisis, between 2010 and 2013, new anti-austerity movements, left-wing parties and trade unions led large mobilisations against austerity policies in Greece and Portugal, with a deep impact in the political landscape of both countries. Besides the relevance of transnational decisions, these mobilisations mostly addressed national political institutions, whereas the governments that emerged from the protest period showed a clear pro-European stance. Against this background, using two case studies with primary data on anti-austerity protests and interactions amongst contentious and institutional actors, this article aims to shed light on a relatively unexplored aspect of Europeanisation in the context of the crisis, focusing on the relation between social movements and institutional politics. Explaining the critical pro-EU positions that have been adopted in Greece and Portugal, it thereby contributes to the related debates on anti-austerity social movements and their impact in times of crisis.