Ode on a Grecian Yearning

[Valin]

The Corner:

 

Michael Auslin

May 24, 2013

 

Athens Democracy is under siege in its birthplace. In a room of over 50 Greek CEOs and scholars from the American School in Greece, not one raises their hand when asked if they think their democratic government is capable of solving their economic problems. Nor does anyone raise their hand when questioned if they think there is a better system of government that could fix Greeces economic crisis. More disturbing, a good 70 or 80 percent agreed with the comment I feel that my freedom is disappearing. Given news this month that the official unemployment rate hit a new record of 27.2 percent, the yearning for a way out of the labyrinth is palpable.

 

Spending several days in Greece clearly is not enough time to understand what is happening here, but one can absorb an enormous amount by getting away from the tourist spots even for a few hours. James Q. Wilson would be horrified by the state of the city every surface within reach is covered by graffiti, many buildings are falling apart, there is a general feeling of decay. At first, I thought the subway was part of an urban art project, so thoroughly were the cars covered. Its a bit like walking through New York in the 1970s; even nice areas are filled with spraypainted logos and slogans. That is not surprising in a country whose GDP dropped nearly 6.5 percent in 2012 and is expected to shrink another 4.5 percent this year.

 

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As for politics, Im told by more than one person that the current center-right government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his New Democracy Party is 100 percent better than the Socialists under George Papandreou, son of Greeces most powerful postwar leader, Andreas Papandreous. Yet, even with the goodwill of many of the business leaders, retirees, and young people I talked with, few believe he has any real chance of creating a sustainable recovery. At best, people were cautiously optimistic that the country was no longer dropping off a precipice, but with the new unemployment news, such hopes are being dashed. Such disaffection is one reason why far-right parties, like New Dawn, a crypto-fascist movement, are gaining alarming levels of support. One sees their black-clad, combat boot-wearing members in subway stations, public squares, and the like.

 

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