In his lecture, Professor Gissurarson will discuss:

• the liberal economic reforms in Iceland in 1991–2004;


• the development from market capitalism to crony capitalism in 2004–8;


• the relations between Iceland and the UK before the Icelandic bank collapse on 7 October 2008;


• the closure same day by British authorities of the London branch of Landsbanki, and the two Icelandic-owned British banks, Heritable and KSF, Kaupthing, Singer & Friedlander;


• the use by the UK government on the next day, 8 October 2008, of the anti-terrorism law against Landsbanki;


• the Central Bank of Iceland and the Icelandic Financial Authority and its consequences for the Icelandic economy,


• and the subsequent dispute in 2008–13 between the UK and Iceland on the liability for the Landsbanki Icesave accounts, leading to three failed deals and two national referenda in Iceland and the final judgement of the EFTA Court in Luxembourg, clearing Iceland of all charges.

Professor Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson is a professor of political science at the University of Iceland. His full CV is available here.

RSVP: By email or 0207 799 8900.