What are the Successes and Failures of Democracy and its Institutions in post-1975 Greece?

Abstract

This thesis examines the successes and failures of democracy and its institutions in post-1975 Greece. As such, it contributes to the area of research by analysing institutions such as the constitution, citizenship, popular sovereignty, political parties, government, checks and balances, public sector, security, elites and finally, the Church of Greece. It is these institutions that have proven to be the most important in Greece and deal with the precedents of governance, state-apparatuses and quasi-state apparatuses. The approach taken in the thesis is from a diachronic perspective that historically analyses and interprets how each of these institutions has evolved since the establishment of the Greek Nation-State in 1821. It also determines the extent to how each institution was functional and dysfunctional. The periods covered are 1821-1974, Chapter 2 1975 – 1985, Chapter 3 1986 – 2000, 2001 – 2007, 2008 – 2016 and 2016 – future. More specifically, the thesis analyses these institutions in detail under the numerous Greek Governments that have been in power since the Metapolitefsi in 1975. This includes those of New Democracy (ND), the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and the current Coalition of the Radial Left (SYRIZA). The thesis, therefore, puts forth that Greece’s politicians in the last 41 years have manipulated the institutions of the Greek Nation-State in order to achieve short term goals for personal interests in the present. Greece’s politicians have thus shown no concern with developing institutions to achieve long-term goals for the interests of the overall Greek Nation both now and in the future. A significant amount of pressure for change must occur in the country, both from Diaspora Greeks and Europeans, if institutions in Greece are to evolve in line with a more democratic nature. Due to limitations, there is, however, more room for research to be conducted in this large area.