Modern Greece: A Civilization On The Periphery (NATIONS OF THE MODERN WORLD : EUROPE)

This clear, balanced book explores the dilemma of Greece, the font of European civilization. Despite its classical past and EU membership, Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being nearly developed. Illuminating the impact of borrowed western institutions on Greeces traditional culture, the authors analyze the paralyzing consequences: a political process dependent on personal relations and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy. State dominance, Legg and Roberts argue, has turned politics primarily into a struggle for office. This emphasis on political conflict has allowed politicians and their supporters to employ emotional nationalist rhetoric to flout democratic rules and to avoid genuine issues. Concluding that the Greek political systems nature precludes real reform, the authors show how EU opportunities for both economic and political reform have been largely lost. Unfortunately, the aspects of Greeces nearly developed status are mirrored in eastern European states with similar pasts. Indeed, the authors warn that the Greece of today may be the future of many of its neighbors. }This clear, balanced book explores the dilemma of Greece, the font of European civilization. Despite its classical past and EU membership, Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being nearly developed. Illuminating the impact of borrowed western institutions on Greeces traditional culture, the authors analyze the paralyzing consequences: a political process dependent on personal relations and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy. State dominance, Legg and Roberts argue, has turned politics primarily into a struggle for office. This emphasis on political conflict has allowed politicians and their supporters to employ emotional nationalist rhetoric to flout democratic rules and to avoid genuine issues. Concluding that the Greek political systems nature precludes real reform, the authors show how EU opportunities for both economic and political reform have been largely lost. Unfortunately, the aspects of Greeces nearly developed status are mirrored in eastern European states with similar pasts. Indeed, the authors warn that the Greece of today may be the future of many of its neighbors. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of Tables and Figures Introduction 1 The Problem of too Much History Modern Greek Nationalism: Competing Visions The Dream of Byzantium The Western Vision Orthodox Christianity Language and Culture Creating a National Identity The Consequences of Success Contemporary Problems of Nationalism and National Unity The Modern and Traditional Tensions Continued 2 Modern Greek History: From One Revolution to Another The Struggle for Independence The Great Powers and the Establishment of the Bavarian Monarchy A New King, a New Constitution The "Revolution" of 1909 and the Ascent of Venizelos Internal Division and Political Instability The Anatolian Disaster and Its Consequences Political Instability and Economic Disaster Political Stalemate and the Metaxas Dictatorship 3 World War II and After The Occupation and Resistance Liberation and Confrontation The Civil War The New Political Context Political Stability and Economic Growth The Center Union: Victory and Defeat Military Dictatorship 4 The International Factor The Tradition of Great Power Patronage Greece and the Great Powers in the Nineteenth Century The Great Powers and Greek Territorial Gains and Losses The United States as Patron Greek Foreign Policy Objectives The European Union as Patron Greek-Turkish Relations The Problem with Macedonia Relations with Albania Greek Foreign Policy and the Diaspora Greece and the International Economic System The International Role of Greece 5 Society and Politics The Patron-Client System Greek Self-Esteem: Philotimo Clientelism and Social Change Refugees The Labor Movement Greek Public Enterprise and the Capitalist System The Ecology Movement: A Case Study How Greeks View the State: A Vulture with Teats 6 Greek Culture: Education, Religion, and the State Education and Nationalism The Reinvention of History Education, Social Status, and the Economy Educational Reform Since World War II Current Constraints on Educational Reform The Orthodox Church and Greek Nationality The Orthodox Church and Independent Greece The Orthodox Church and the State Today Greeks of the Diaspora The "New" Diaspora Preserving Greek Culture 7 The Constitution in Theory and Practice The 1975 Constitution The State and Individual Rights The Presidency The Parliament The Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the Government The Judiciary Regional Administration Parties in Law Electoral Laws and the Party System Constitutional Reality 8 Political Parties and Elections Changes in the Party System Changes in the Parties The Political "Families," Party Genealogies and Political Realignments Political Parties and Change Changes in the Electorate The Reassertion of Tradition Contemporary Political Parties The Persistence of the Current Party System 9 Political Forces and Policymaking The Context of Policymaking Is There a Greek Political Elite? Policy and Political Leadership Missing Actors: Interest Groups The Mass Media and Policymaking The Immutable Bureaucracy The Military as a Political Participant Where Does Policy Come From? Political Scandals Constraints on Policy Public Resources and Elections The Persistence of Traditional Patterns of Policymaking 10 The Political Economy of a Peripheral State The Greek Economy The Greek Economy During the Events of 1992 Political Culture, the Public Sector, and the Economy 11 The Challenge of Maastricht: European, Mediterranean, Balkan, or Third World? Political Identity and the State Civil Society and Politics Greece in the European Union Model or Exception? Conclusion Notes About the Book and Authors Index This clear, balanced account explores the dilemma of Greece, the fount of European civilization. Despite its classical past and EU membership, Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being "nearly developed." Illuminating the impact of borrowed "western" institutions on Greece's traditional culture, Keith Legg and John Roberts analyze the paralyzing consequences: a political process dependent on personal relations and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy. State dominance, the authors argue, has turned politics primarily into a struggle for office. This emphasis on political conflict has allowed politicians and their supporters to employ emotional nationalist rhetoric to flout democratic rules and to avoid genuine issues. Concluding that the Greek political system precludes real reform, Legg and Roberts show how EU opportunities for both economic and political reform have been largely lost. Unfortunately, the aspects of Greece's "nearly developed" status are mirrored in eastern European states with similar pasts. Indeed, the authors warn that the Greece of today may be the future of many of its neighbors. Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being "nearly developed". Examining the impact of "western" institutions on Greece's culture, the study shows a political process dependent on personal relations and a society dominated by a centralized bureaucracy. Keith R. Legg And John M. Roberts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 207-221) And Index.