The Geopolitics of Greek Foreign Policy: From the Great Idea to Great Ideas?

Abstract

The thesis identifies a vital research gap that has been overlooked in the labyrinth that is Greek foreign affairs. To date, there lacks research on the driver of Greek foreign policy and thus, the vital question is posed: Is the ‘policy’ in foreign affairs articulated by a legitimate strategy or are such matters come down to the individual decisions of the Greek Prime Minister? In answering this question, the research is approached from the geopolitical theory of the Rimland Bridge (Greece, Cyprus and Turkey) whereby from this region alone, Great Powers can dominate both the Rimland (Europe and Asia) as well as the Heartland (Russia). However, the Rimland Bridge also suffers from the ‘Guardian’s Dilemma’ or the constant challenge of Greek and Turkish rivalry. Historically, the research has proved that from 1821 to 2019, Greek foreign policy was driven by the decisions of the Greek leadership rather than a formulated strategy. In aligning Greece with the respective Great Powers of the Rimland Bridge, successive Greek Prime Ministers’ attempted to maintain a relationship of reciprocity. For Greece, this included the protection of the Great Powers, as well as their support in Greek territorial expansions (Great Idea), and later ventures such as joining NATO and the EU (Great Ideas). Since 2019, Greek foreign policy remains driven by the sporadic decisions of the current Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. In addition to protection, Greece relies on the US and France, as well as NATO and the EU, for support in resolving all Greek ‘National Issues’ with Turkey and containing Turkey’s broader revisionism. However, despite maintaining the status quo, Greece’s absence of a strategy is failing to halt Turkey’s Blue Homeland and its goal of conquering the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. In light of these findings, my research proves Greek foreign policy, particularly with regard to geopolitical territories, requires the adoption of a specific ‘Greek Grand Strategy’.