On Social Cohesion in Greece

Abstract

On Social Cohesion in Greece Andromachi Hadjiyanni (bio) In this article we will focus on social cohesion in modern Greek society by presenting aspects of social life where there is either evidence of social cohesion or evidence to the contrary. The study of social cohesion is not an easy task owing to the fact that the concept has become a battleground of opposing forces engendering heated debates between writers who have attempted, over the last two decades, to give an explicit and comprehensive definition of the concept.1 Some argue that this concept has not been conceptually processed in an adequate way. Consequently, it is characterized by uncertainty and has become construed in numerous ways to suit a variety of situations/agendas. As a result, this term has been adapted to the requirements and the limitations of public action and, for this reason, has been widely disseminated.2 Some others claim that 'the concept of social cohesion is not a well-defined concept and, as such, does not (and cannot) lead to a clear sociopolitical project. The vagueness of the concept is not due to poor or contradictory academic work, but to the fact that its content is the subject of multiple 'rapport de forces' between social groups and political organizations that are trying to impose their own project of social cohesion'.3 In a recent paper, Forsé and Parodi (2009) propose 'A theory for social cohesion' adapting the view that social cohesion is a multidimensional concept whose definition is not obvious because it [End Page 7] describes, simultaneously, a situation and a procedure, while, at the same time, provides arguments about the real (real society) and the ideal (a society with ideal configuration) according to the citizens' view.4 However, the basic idea, according to analysts around which this theory is organised, is that in our societies, social justice - a concept already present in the work of Durkheim - is at the heart of social cohesion.5 According to Forsé and Parodi, we can estimate the social cohesion of a society based on empirical evidence but this estimate must be based on opinions as well as practices, in facts as well as in rights. Thus, to what extent can we talk about social cohesion in Modern Greek society and in which areas can we detect it? To answer this question, we have studied three main areas where we believe that social solidarity and, consequently, social cohesion can be identified: –. The area of work (which encompasses the issues of employment, unemployment, poverty and social inequalities), –. The area of social bonds (which encompasses the issues of social capital and of civil society, the issues of family and the welfare state, the issue of trust in other persons and trust in institutions), and –. The area of national identity (which encompasses the issues of religion and religious minorities as well as the issue of immigration). Before we refer to the aspects of social cohesion in Greece in the recent years, we should highlight some milestones of the political, social and economic life in Greece in the post war era which will facilitate an understanding of our investigation. Greece, at the end of World War II, had a civil war which left the country deeply split, politically polarized and in a cycle of continuous political crises.6 During the period following the war, there was a large internal migration flow of the mainly agricultural population to urban areas and, at the same time, emigration to the United States, Canada and Western Germany. Within two decades, the country changed dramatically from an agricultural to an urban society: the way of life as well as consumption habits changed. Consequently, a high level of economic development took place. This period after the war was characterised by limited or one could say troubling democracy - a contradictory 'democratic' period consisting of elements of authoritarianism and democracy.7 It concluded with the instalment of the dictatorship from 1967 until 1974. This was an especially difficult [End Page 8] and painful period on a political and social level because all rights were suppressed within Greece whereas the country was isolated internationally. After the fall of the dictatorship, democracy reappeared in Greece which...