Author Archives: Nasos Mihalakas

About Nasos Mihalakas

I am an Assistant Professor of International Business and Government policy, and a former U.S. Government policy analyst. I have over nine years of experience with the U.S. government as a trade policy analyst, and U.S.-China trade relations. I have worked for both a Congressional Commission advising Congress on the impact of trade with China and for the U.S. Department of Commerce investigating unfair trade practices. However, my education has been on constitutional and comparative law, with an LLM from University College London, and a JD from the University of Pittsburgh. Currently I am writing a book on the evolution of Federalism in the U.S., and the application of Federalism as a form of governance around the world. You can contact me at: nasos.mihalakas@gmail.com

Constitutional Reforms for Greece.

Posted on April 30, 2013

When a country like Greece experiences a financial, employment, and economic meltdown unlike no other in its recent history, then it’s time to look beyond the symptoms and consider the possible causes. Is Greece’s current sovereign debt crisis something that … Continue reading →

Posted in Federalism, Governance, Uncategorized | Tagged Constitution of Greece, Constitutional Reform, delegation of powers, Greece, Greek Government, greek prime ministers, legislative competition, Member of Parliament, parliamentary system of governance, Senate | Leave a comment

Constitutional Reforms for Greece, and Post-Election Suggestions for Mr. Samaras!

Posted on May 4, 2012

On May 6th, Greece will have the most important election of its post junta era. The sovereign debt crisis has humbled the country and the EU imposed austerity measures have angered the people. Unlike the Koskota scandal that led to … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance | Tagged Antonis Samaras, European Union, Greece, Greek Constitution, Greek Election, Greek Government, New Democracy, Panhellenic Socialist Movement | Leave a comment

Time for Iraq to Activate its Federation Council!

Posted on April 30, 2012

The political power struggle in Baghdad has significantly escalated since the last U.S. troops withdrew in December 2011, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki slowly abandoning the principle of a unity government that gives all stakeholders a share of power and … Continue reading →

Posted in Federalism, Governance | Tagged Baghdad, Federalism, Iraq, Iraqi constitution, Iraqi Federation Council, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Regional Government, Massoud Barzani, Nouri al-Maliki, Shia, Sunni | Leave a comment

By the People and for the People – A New Approach to the Federal Budget!

Posted on April 16, 2012

One of the primary responsibilities of any government (both executive and legislature) in any country is the management of the public purse: the government budget and the national debt. As developments in Europe demonstrate, bad management of government expenditures could … Continue reading →

Posted in Americans Elect, Federalism, Governance | Tagged Democrats, Federalism, Government budget deficit, Government debt, Government spending, Republicans, U.S. States, United States, United States federal budget | 1 Comment

A New Federalism for Libya and the Arab Spring.

Posted on April 10, 2012

Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, Libya’s road to democracy was going to be the hardest of all the Arab nations in transition. Last month, that process got even more complicated for the Libyan people. At a gathering in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Federalism, Governance | Tagged Arab Spring, Barqa Council, Benghazi, Bicameral Legislature, Cyrenaica, Federal government, Federalism, Fezzan, Libya, Libyan Elctions, National Transitional Council, Tripoli, Tripolitania | 1 Comment

SCAF’s Constitutional Declaration – Uncertainty and Hope for Egypt’s Bicameral Legislature.

Posted on February 27, 2012

February 11 marked the one year anniversary of the official fall of Hosni Mubarak from power. What started with street demonstrations and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) overthrowing the President and dissolving the Parliament, was followed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Governance | Tagged Arab Spring, Bicameral Legislature, Constitutional Declaration, Constitutional Reform, Egypt, Federalism, Muslim Brotherhood, Parliament of Egypt, SCAF, Shura Council | Leave a comment

The Real Cause of the Greek Sovereign Debt Crisis.

Posted on February 17, 2012

The Greek sovereign debt crisis has capture the attention of the world, both for what it says about the viability of the Euro and the EU integration project, but also for the warning signs it sends to governments around the … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance | Tagged Arab Spring, EU, European integration, European sovereign debt crisis, European Union, Eurozone, form of government, governance, Greece, Greek, Hellenic Parliament, Prime-Minister, sovereign debt crisis, system of governance, U.S. | Leave a comment

America – A Constitutional Midwife for the Arab World!

Posted on February 1, 2012

A recent article by Nathan Brown in the FP (Americans, put away your quills), argues very eloquently against the advocacy and promotion of ‘American constitutional ideas’ (and ideals) in Arab countries currently in transition due to the Arab Spring. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Federalism | Tagged Arab Spring, checks and balances, Egypt, Federalism, MENA, Middle East, seperation of power, United States, United States Constitution | Leave a comment

Reforming the Electoral College – Why we Need to Return to the Framers Original Intent!

Posted on January 30, 2012

A recent article by Charles Lane of the Washington Post (Keep the electoral college) makes a spirited though misguided defense of the Electoral College. Although Mr. Lane acknowledges that Electoral College is not the most democratic system (but then again, … Continue reading →

Posted in Americans Elect, Federalism | Tagged Americans Elect, Congressional District Method, Democratic-Republican, Electoral College, Federalism, Federalist, Jefferson, President, United States, US, Vice-President, Washington D.C | 4 Comments

A League of Nations in Transition – Regional Integration for the Arab Spring!

Posted on December 13, 2011

As the Arab Spring is turning to its second (and harder) phase of conducting elections and forming legitimate transitional government, the need for an economic strategy is becoming painfully apparent. The people, who marched on the streets demanding political freedom, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring | Tagged Agadir Agreement, Arab people, Arab Spring, European Union, Middle East, North Africa, Regional Integration | Leave a comment