Why Greece has no Greek foreign policy

The Hellenic News of America ^ | 06/20/06 | E. G. Vallianatos

[eleni121]

From Persia in the early fifth century BCE, to the Romans 400 years later, to the Turks, 1,600 years later, foreign invaders have had a dramatic impact on the Greeks.

The Persian invasion of Greece and the Greeks’ victory over that vast empire set the foundations of the Greeks’ golden age. The Greeks directed their legitimate pride for their courage and manliness to works of permanent beauty and originality. Instead of counter attacking the defeated Persians, the Athenians in particular rebuilt their destroyed polis with gleaming marble vigorous democratic institutions, flourishing theater, Panhellenic athletic contests-celebrations of goddess Athena, schools of science, medicine and philosophy, uniting half of Greece under their leadership

[eleni121]

This opinion piece argues against dependence on the West for sustenance; however, I believe that Greek parochialism should be abandoned in favor of a vocabulary that strikes deep in what Europe considers important. For instance, the rights of Greeks in Albania are not just a problem concerning bilateral Greek-Albanian relations but of pan-European importance, but must be articulated as a matter of human rights - something that Europe says it cherishes. Greek concerns must fit within international principles and Western interests and doing so could considerably enhance the persuasiveness of Greek arguments abroad.

[eleni121]

Your comments please.

Does Greece continue its reliance on her fickle friends in the West or...develop a "go it alone" strategy like Isreal (with help from Jews abroad)

[Citizen Tom Paine]

Conventional wisdom says that every nation has vital national interests that they have to look after. The Greeks themselves have to determine them. This is what should shape their foreign policy.IMHO

[GSlob]

"After shaking hands with a Greek, count your fingers"
Albanian proverb
["The Guinness book of poisonous quotes", compiled by Colin M. Jarman, ISBN 0-8092-3681-8, Contemporary Books, Chicago,1993, page 307]

[Torie]

Turkey could squash Greece militarily in a hurry. And Greece cannot afford the luxury of not hewing to EU standards to remain in the EU.

[thoughtomator]

Greece doesn't have any Jews abroad...

[Owl558]

"Turkey could squash Greece militarily in a hurry. And Greece cannot afford the luxury of not hewing to EU standards to remain in the EU."

Odes to Hellenistic glories seem quaint considering the state of Rhode Island could squash Greece militarily.

Isreal doesn't "go it alone", they rely on Uncle Sam same as Greece relys on the EU.

[Torie]

Ya, but next to Jewish Americans, Greek Americans have more influence on US policy vis a vis Greece than any other nation I can think of.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

They probably have some.

[The_Reader_David]

It is one of the sad facts of European history that the Western powers only supported Greek nationalism when it embraced 'Hellenism'. If in 1700, you had called a Christian in Thrace, or the Peleponnesis, or Thessalonkia, a "hellene" (Greek, in Greek), he would have punched you in the nose. The Hellenes were pagans, Christians were Romanoi--Romans. Looking West then corroded the Greek national psyche.

Looking to the West will only get support in exchange for the abandonment of Holy Orthodoxy, the secularists of latter-day Brussels being every bit as zealous to enforce their world-view as the Popes of Rome in the fifteenth century. And the support will as likely be as useful as it was in the fifteenth century.

Now that Communism is fallen, Greece needs to look East, and make common cause with Romania and the Slavic nations, to push the EU to reject its drive to enforce Western secularism, and failing that, to set up their own commonwealth, which will let Greeks be Romanoi rather than Hellenes.

[LjubivojeRadosavljevic]

["Ya, but next to Jewish Americans, Greek Americans have more influence on US policy vis a vis Greece than any other nation I can think of."]

Well, I would say the Irish-Americans have the most influence.

Others may disagree, but what the hell, I'm a Serb.

[Wiz]

Let's hope US will go defend Greece, and take back Cyprus for Greece, and get Constantinople back in the hands of Christians. I'm not happy about anti-Americanism of Greece, but at least the current administration is slightly better, and we cannot have Islamofascists to invade Christian territory again.

[wgflyer]

Any country that relies heavily upon another for it’s sustenance or defense must inevitably become culturally diminished, as one partner is not the equal of the other. Greece should indeed shed it’s dependence upon the west, including the EU. Economics is the key. No country of limited resources can go it alone, but there’s a lot to be said for choosing the right partners. I believe that Greece, along with other orthodox countries in the region, should form a separate economic community of sovereign nations (unlike the EU), in which business (particularly small business) and trade can thrive. This would require some innovative and business friendly tax structures and the complete renunciation of socialism, vigorous suppression of corruption, and would really annoy EU countries which would then be unable to fairly compete. While EU economic power is more perceived than real, their treachery is very real. Certainly sanctions would be vigorously applied and the EU would undermine such an economic endeavor wherever and whenever possible. Countries involved in the new cooperative would have to be very committed to it. It’s a tough road to economic (and the resultant cultural and military independence it can bring) independence in Europe, but that’s the only way I think they could do it. Particularly, in today’s increasing alliance of western secular socialists with islamofacism.

Personally, though, I don’t think the Greeks have it in them. Too many of them embrace socialism and communism.

[Kenny Bunk]

When the EU "Catch-Up" subsidies to Ireland and Greece (and Portugal) ended, with both countries having received some 20Billion Euro over the years, it was very sad to see that the Greeks had definitely, IMHO, NOT put the money to much visible good use.

Ireland has an interesting economic boom long underway and used the money to improve the infrastructure and attract new industry. Their governments, just as socialist as any other bunch of Eurotwits, at least had the common sense to craft a tax policy that encouraged development, and kept it on track for two decades.

No such luck in Greece. The infrastructure sometimes looks as if WWII ended last week. Endemic corruption siphons off development funds, and one government after another has only succeeded in making the Sicilians look more efficient.

IMHO, every educated person thinks of Greece every day. This endless and sad confusion over the direction of national progress is not new, but it does seem anachronistic in this day and age. I am a stranger to Greek politics, and Greece does "live" in a bad neighborhood, with Turkey on one side and Albania on the other.

What can we do to get Greece up and running better? Perhaps they should sponsor a mini-EU, as the author suggests, with their Slavic neigbors to the North. Rumania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria have huge economic potential based on resources,that they are structurally unable to develop.

[eleni121]

believe that Greece, along with other orthodox countries in the region, should form a separate economic community of sovereign nations (unlike the EU), in which business (particularly small business) and trade can thrive.

---

A rebirth of Byzantium. A great idea. I agree with you that at this time Greeks do not have it in them...but many diaspora Greeks do. That was the best suggestion the author could come up with.

[eleni121]

YOU are right....but as a member of NATO and the EU there is not a lot of room to maneuver an independent policy...either culturally or economically.

[eleni121]

You make many excellent points, a lack of infrastructure development being one although it got better due to the Olympic Games and the funding from that.

Regionalism is another - not a bad thing but defined by allegiance to often corrupt political machines rather than allegiance to the nation state; an unfortunate devotion to European secularism at the expense of developing a stronger allegiance to its historical institutions namely the Church and networking to the US.

It's a small but potentially great nation; however with a combination of the brain drain along with abortion Greece continues to show a disrespect to its past instead focusing on European socialism which are really anathema to Greek ideals.

[HostileTerritory]

Well, I would say the Irish-Americans have the most influence.

No, because that bumps up against the U.S. alliance with Britain, which is more valuable and heart-felt than whatever agreements we have with Turkey. U.S. interest in Northern Ireland's Catholics tends to the parochial with a few politicians in both parties playing a lead role and the government itself keeping its distance and trying to be an honest broker.

Others may disagree, but what the hell, I'm a Serb.

It's important to note that Greek influence over U.S. policy toward specifically GREEK concerns does not mean buying into the sort of pro-Orthodox pan-Slavic policies Greece supports in non-Greek regions to the north.

[Kolokotronis]

I am very familiar with Greek politics and the players. I am also familiar with what Greece has done with its infrastructure and economy, especially over the past few years. Frankly, the infrastructure improvements are astonishing to me. The highway system is spectacular. Last year I saw highway engineering marvels the like of which I've never seen anywhere. And I don't mean just around Athens, but also right down to the bottom of the Peloponnesus. The people seem far more prosperous than just 5-6 years ago and even the more isolated villages, at least the ones I went to, are looking very good with roads, schools and residences all dramatically improved. There are public works projects going on everywhere. The government has created new "municipalities" which are each composed of a number of villages which has streamlined local government, increased the voice of country people in the Athens government and improved efficiency in the delivery of all local services. Frankly, I am still in awe of the changes I've seen. On the national level, privatization of formerly government controlled business is proceeding well and the banking industry has exploded, with banks from all over the world now found there. The access to capital this affords the Greeks has had a major beneficial impact on the economy.

As for the EU, well Greece traded part of its soul for that EU money. Just a few years ago one heard Greeks speaking of "going to Europe" or "the Europeans" the same way they might speak about America and Americans. Not anymore. They have become, to a great extent, Europeans. On the other hand, they view themselves as being in the right place to grow...and control, the economies of the rest of the Ba;lkans and even Turkey, which they are well on their way to doing.

Greece has to act in Greece's best national interests. That doesn't include, in my opinion, buying into any EU "collective security" fantasy. Beyond that, expect that Greece will stayed tied to the West, but with an "independent" foreign policy" (likely influenced, at least in part, by its Orthodox religion and looking favorably on its coreligionists).

[Kenny Bunk]

what Greece has done with its infrastructure and economy, especially over the past few years.

Thank you for the update. I haven't been in Greece since before the Olympics, so I am happy to hear of the improvements on such a meaningful scale.

The "European" thing is funny. When I studied in Ireland of the early 60's, had I called anyone a "European," it would have been good for at least 1 black eye! Now, everybody is!

The question is, "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"