Greece - the Eastern Question revisited

An article in a current affairs magazine in the UK pointed out that although Athens is the birthplace of democracy, you need to look further east to understand the political culture of modern Greece. It has its roots in the Byzantine Empire, where autocracy and nepotism set the pace instead of democracy.

The same article also points out that 70% of Greek companies are family owned, they are not innovative as they employ family members and other close relatives. This certainly is the case in shipping. The Greeks may be the world's largest shipowners, but where is a Greek container shipping major, cruise line, vehicle carrier specialist or LNG carrier company? The Greeks are shining with their absence in these sectors, which demand quite a bit more than a technical office and a broker or two to keep your ships going.

It is no wonder that most Greek shipping comprises dry bulk and tankers, which are relatively simple operations. In all truth, here they excel and they have built a reputation of clever and shrewd businessmen that know exactly when to sell and when to buy.

Athens may have been the birthplace of democracy, but it has now become the birthplace of the most serious crisis that the European Union has met since its creation. It is interesting to notice how politics affect our thinking: as a EU and NATO member, it has become quite natural to think of Greece as a western country.

However, in the 19th century its fortunes were part of what was known as the Eastern Question - what to do with the crumbling Ottoman Empire. It seems that Greece retains far more links to the East than what most of us have tended to believe.