FEATURES OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN MODERN GREECE

Abstract

At the end of the XX – beginning of the XXI century in international relations the issue of identity comes to the fore. This is connected with the restructuring of the international system after the collapse of the USSR. In a crisis, the question of identity sets the direction for development and achieving stability. Formation of national identity is one of the key moments for democratic countries, depending on external and internal factors. Global changes around the world have revealed the fundamental differences underlying the existing national identity. Obviously, the need for a strong national identity is now faced by most developed countries. This issue is significant for most European countries building a contradictory multicultural society. Appeal to the practice of such states will allow to analyze the national identity. An analysis of the national identity of Greece is of particular interest and can contribute to a better understanding of current events. The study of national identity in modern Greece is of great importance for a correct understanding of how this state and its citizens identify themselves. The economic crisis in Greece struck not only the financial sector, but also caused a crisis of national identity. The research is based on general scientific principles of cognition of social phenomena. Systemic, historical and comparative approaches are used to reveal the specifics of national identity in Greece these days. The system approach allowed using a set of methods for analyzing scientific literature, conference materials and scientific articles on this topic. With the help of the historical approach, it was possible to identify the role of Orthodoxy and Byzantine heritage in the formation of national identity in Greece.