ABSTRACT
The history of Greece over the past five decades has included periods of German occupation, civil war, military dictatorship, democratic government and, most recently, Socialist administration. At one level the impression conveyed is of a political system which is subject to frequent and abrupt change. However, this picture is by no means comprehensive, because there are also present strong elements of continuity. In this article we examine the nature of the relationship between the state and the Greek broadcasting services from a historical perspective, tracing the close links between the two from the establishment of radio in the 1930s through to the present-day Pasok regime. The article emphasises the overriding continuity of this relationship despite attempts at reform, structural reorganisation and changes of government. The picture which emerges is of broadcasting being used and abused for partisan political purposes by successive governing elites.
