Modern Greece: A Civilization for the Periphery

This clear, balanced book explores the dilemma of Greece, the font of European civilization. Despite its classical past and EU membership, the authors argue that Greece has been unable to escape the limbo of being nearly developed. Illuminating the impact of borrowed western institutions on Greece's traditional culture, the book analyzes the paralyzing consequences: a political process dependent on personal relations and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy. The authors, Legg and Roberts, contend that state dominance 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's nature precludes real reform, the authors 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.

The book explores how Greece's classical past and its membership in the European Union have not been enough to propel the country out of its state of near-development. The authors delve into the impact of adopting western institutions on Greece's traditional culture, revealing the debilitating consequences. They describe a political process heavily reliant on personal relationships and a civil society dominated by a highly centralized bureaucracy.

Legg and Roberts argue that state dominance has transformed politics in Greece into a mere struggle for power, rather than a platform for addressing genuine issues. This emphasis on political conflict has enabled politicians and their supporters to employ emotive nationalist rhetoric to circumvent democratic principles and avoid substantive policy discussions.

Ultimately, the authors conclude that the inherent nature of the Greek political system precludes meaningful reform. They highlight how the EU's opportunities for both economic and political transformation in Greece have been largely squandered. Worryingly, the authors observe that the challenges facing Greece's nearly developed status are mirrored in other Eastern European states with similar historical backgrounds. The authors warn that the Greece of today may well represent the future of many of its neighbors in the region.

The book's clear, balanced approach and the authors' insightful analysis shed light on the complex dilemma facing Greece, a country that has struggled to fully transition from its classical past to a modern, developed European state. The work offers a valuable perspective on the broader implications of Greece's experience for the broader region, serving as a cautionary tale for the challenges facing countries in similar stages of development.

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