The author, of Greek heritage, goes to Greece to better
understand how the nation will cope with the effects of the 2008
financial crash on it and its membership in the EU.
He sees modern Greece as corrupt, with its government, via
kickbacks, bribes, etc, providing easy living for all government workers
and their descendants. Greeks don't see this as bad, just making up for
brutal treatment under the Ottoman Empire. Plus, taxes go underpaid.
Kind of a paradox, a nation as a birthplace of democracy,
science and reason, now a dysfunctional government and people who expect
to be rewarded.
Meanwhile, those with ties to the government do pretty
well, while those tied to the private economy either do well and move
money out of Greece, or suffer.
Greece probably cooked the books to get accepted to the EU and cannot meet reforms because the nation lives on corruption.
Also, past NAZI occupation of Greece during WW2
still evokes passion, such that they see Germany as just the latest evil
incarnation of the past, via the austerity wanted in proposed reforms.
Talk of WW2 reparations still are prevalent.
The author uses lots of interviews to paint his picture of
recent Greece and I recommend the book to better understand Greece in
relation to the current financial situation.
