ABSTRACT
Once the question of political power was settled in the late 1940s, the respective governments initiated far-reaching economic and social reforms. By the end of the period, the four socialist economies of the region differed substantially from each other in their socio-economic outlook, and also in the foreign policies of their Communist governments. Nevertheless, Greek society experienced radical social and economic transformations as well, inviting comparison. This chapter highlights the transformative changes in three important, closely intertwined social domains: demography, economy, and gender relations. The most visible change in the demographics of the region was the decline in the birth rate, pointing to a fundamental transformation of social roles, especially for working women. Demographic changes were closely related to the transformation of the economic structure, although the lines of causation were not always clear. One of the areas, where social change became especially visible and durable, was gender relations, particularly the position of women.
