A court case is currently running in France that is of relevance to more than the French. During two weeks to 29 November, Banque Nationale de Paris Paribas is being sued in the Tribunal correctionnel of Paris (a mid-level criminal court) by lawyers representing borrowers of loans denominated in foreign currency.

In the late 1980s, the populace of Eastern European countries rebelled against their governments, client regimes under the dominance of the Soviet Union that was soon to collapse itself.

The West promised freedom. What large sections of these countries’ populations got instead was a new form of servitude. By Evan Jones.