Ανάρτηση Ερευνητικού Δοκιμίου no 22/25

Ερευνητικό Δοκίμιο no 22/25 με τίτλο "Leadership: The Other Deficit of Post-1974 Greece"

του Γεωργίου Κ. Μπήτρου

Περίληψη

In the absence of a universal index to evaluate the quality of leadership in Greece's governance since 1974, this paper proposes the use of three sub-indices. The first sub-index focuses on prudence, self-insurance, and the ability to learn from past experiences. The second sub-index centers on preserving the foundations of democracy. Finally, the third sub-index considers records of citizen participation and voting in national elections.To capture the evolution of these sub-indices, the paper utilizes measures of economic growth, the status of the defense industry, the protections afforded to freedoms and private property, and election turnout. The evidence indicates that Greece's political system failed to produce leaders with the long term vision, convictions, and decisiveness necessary to enhance the country's standing within the European Union (EU). Since 1974, perhaps the only leader who has come close to meeting these criteria is Konstantinos G. Karamanlis. He demonstrated remarkable foresight by securing Greece's admission to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1981, and he took decisive actions to plunge Greece into challenging situations, as he famously stated, forcing the country to learn how to navigate them. However, while Karamanlis exhibited both vision and decisiveness, his views on the country's social and economic organization were ultimately misguided. Therefore, as we look to the future, the responsibility for restoring the ailing political system now rests with the citizens of Greece.

O Γεώργιος Κ. Μπήτρος είναι Ομότιμος Καθηγητής του τμήματος Οικονομικής Επιστήμης του Οικονομικού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών.