The Event

How do we define democracy in the 21st Century? How do we define liberty and progress? And is there an alternative economic model that can bring more people more freedom? These are big questions – and we'll put them to the indomitable Yanis Varoufakis when he returns to Melbourne in March. 

An economist, author and self-described 'libertarian Marxist', Varoufakis rose to international fame in 2015 at the height of the Greek financial crisis, when he led international negotiations with Greece's creditors in efforts to stave off onerous austerity measures. Since resigning from the Parliament, he's co-founded the pan-European cross-border group Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25), written a new book about economics (Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: A Brief History of Capitalism) and launched a new international progressive movement with Bernie Sanders. Last year, he was elected again to the Hellenic Parliament, where he now serves as an MP in the new European Realistic Disobedience Front party.

At the Athenaeum Theatre, the rock-star economist will talk debt, disobedience and democracy with Nassim Khadem.