The Greek Way
of Life
The Greek way of life came under unprecedented international scrutiny
in the wake of Greece’s 2011 sovereign debt crisis. As Greece negotiated
its way out of a default that threatened to rock the EU, the blame game
turned personal (and occasionally nasty), with the Greeks painted as
lazy, reckless, free-spending and corrupt.
The reality of Greece and Greeks today is far more complex. For every
grain of hard and inconvenient truth exposed about Greece’s chronic
dysfunctionality, there were as many populist cultural stereotypes and
unfair assassinations of the national character. For every tax evading
lawyer or lazy public-sector offi cial, there are hard-working Greek fami-
lies struggling to make ends meet.
But there is no denying that the crisis engulfi ng Greece is not just
political and economic, but social and, even, cultural. After his election
as Prime Minister, George Papandreou conceded his beleaguered nation
had been mired in corruption, cronyism and clientelistic practices, and
warned that Greece’s problems would be solved by restructuring the
country, not just its debt.
Growing social unrest, mass demonstrations and violent clashes with
police in Athens (see p 730 ) have shaken a deeply divided Greek society.
The standard of living for the average Greek improved beyond all
recognition in the 30 years since Greece joined the EU (see p 730 ). But
increasingly aspirational lifestyles seemed to be out of sync with aver-
age incomes and rising living costs, and ultimately unsustainable on
easy credit anddosis (instalment schemes). Like their government,
many Greeks were living beyond their means.
Most Greek workers have been aff ected by the EU-sanctioned aus-
terity measures, from cuts to pensions and wages to indirect tax hikes.
Shops are closing and spending on entertainment has been curtailed.
As Greece undertakes a massive privatisation drive, drastic public-
sector cuts and fundamental tax and structural reforms, Greeks are
facing a diffi cult and uncertain future and once again their resilience
is being tested.Social & Family Life
Greek society remains dominated by the family and kinship. Greeks
are gregarious and enjoy a rich communal life, eating out regularly and
fi lling the country’s myriad cafes and bars. They travel and socialise in
packs, with family or their pareaa (companions).
In the early evenings, especially in summer, people of all ages take
their volta (evening walk), walking along seafront promenades or
through town centres, dressed up and refreshed from an afternoon
siesta (albeit a dying institution). Many visitors are struck by Greece’sGreece has
become a largely
urban society,
with more than
two-thirds of
the 10.7 million
population living
in cities and less
than 15% living
on the islands. A
third live in the
Greater Athens
area.