ABSTRACT

Organised civil society in Greece is generally regarded as weak with rankings for associational density, volunteerism and levels of social capital traditionally among the lowest in Europe. Austerity and the Third Sector in Greece explores the context behind the statistics and general perceptions of a society of takers, not givers. Stereotypes of a country living beyond its means have been exacerbated by the Eurozone crisis but, since 2008, there has in fact been a great proliferation of organised civil society initiatives in the country. Has the financial crisis seen a belated awakening of Greek civil society? Offering a broad overview of contemporary civil society in Greece this book explores how various characteristics of the country's socio-political context have affected the development of the third sector and examines the effect of the economic crisis on it. Expert contributors combine macro-level analyses with local case studies to form a fascinating new study on the influences of national and regional context on civil society development. Their findings provide not only for a better understanding of similar movements, but also contribute to wider academic debates on societal responses to economic crises.

chapter Chapter 1|6 pages

Introduction

part 1|100 pages

Between Citizens and the State

chapter Chapter 2|20 pages

Greek Civil Society

The Neglected Causes of Weakness 1

chapter Chapter 5|18 pages

Solidarity and Survival

A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Volunteering during the Greek Crisis

chapter Chapter 6|22 pages

Urban Social Movements in Greece

Dominant Discourses and the Reproduction of ‘Weak' Civil Societies 1

part 2|83 pages

Sectoral Analyses of Greek Civil Society

chapter Chapter 7|16 pages

NGOs and Social Welfare in Greece Reassessed

Comparative Insights and Crisis Repercussions

chapter Chapter 8|22 pages

When Best is Not Enough

Greek Environmental NGOs and their Donors amidst the Economic Crisis

part 3|62 pages

Local Case Studies of Civil Society Development