The persistance of the major political forces in Greece to be governed by a phobic disorder is a remnand of the political realities of post-1821 revolution against Turkish occupation. During those times, political forces were divided acording to the Great Power with which they were alligned. So much so, that the names of the political parties were: the Russian party the English party and the French party. In those times Greece, a shadow of its glorious past, was but a small peninsula surrounded by the Ottoman Empire and Britain. As a result, foreign help and aid was exremely important but without painful concessions such as foreign involvement in internal affairs and loans with onerus terms. Coupled with the history of 400 years of Ottoman rule, Greek continuing foreign policy has been, at best, that of appeasement concession and compromise. As a result, in modern times, Greece's treatment by other countries has been dismissive and hegemonistic. To this, major Greek political forces have been reluctant to project a courageous and patriotic foreign policy. The results have been unfortunate if not catastrophic.
1. Greece lost Northern Epirus to Albania following the Balkan Wars and World War II due to pressure from European Great Powers (particularly Italy and Austria-Hungary) despite having regained Greek territories. These powers wanted to prevent Greece from gaining strategic control of the Adriatic coast and sought to create a viable Albanian state.. (According to GOOGLE AI). 2. Greece bowed to Great Power pressure and recognised the term NORTH MACEDONIA to the Slavic neighbour from the North (former Vardarsca). This is cataqstrophic since it gave the right to the Slavs to use the term Macedonian language as their own... 3. Greece has delayed, without good reason, an announcement of the extension of its territorial waters to 12 miles, as it has a unilateral right to do under UNCLOS. This apparently is because of the declaration of war by Turkey in case of any announcement of territorial water extension.
4. The Cyprus tragedy of 1974. This was when trasonous Greek dictators were persuaded by American interests in the area and caused the coup which resulted in the Turkish invasion.
5. The backtracking of panned, internationally supported, marine developments under Turkish pressure.
Konstantine Kanaris, also known as Bourlotieris, second Prime Minister of the new Hellenic Republic would be appalled by the guttless republic of today. Here is an actual photo of him. Will Greece ever have a truly independent foreign poilicy?
