euGreeka

Tuesday, 14 February 2012; 6:15-7:45pm.

Part of the Lent Term lectures of LSE’s Hellenic Observatory.

By Dr Athanasia Chalari, A.C. Laskaridis Post-Doctoral Fellow; Lecturer in Sociology, University of Manchester.

The Hellenic Observatory Research Seminar series provides a forum for academic and policy research addressed mainly to student and academic audiences within London, but also to the wider Greek community.

Topics cover mainly current economic, public policy and foreign policy issues related to Greece, Cyprus and southeast Europe region but also extent to topics on culture and history.

The seminars run normally fortnightly every second Tuesday during the two teaching terms and are open to all with no ticket required. For more information email hellenicovservatory@lse.ac.uk or call 020 79556066.

“Currently, Greek society is experiencing significant economic, political and social change. Much has been written and said regarding the economic and political challenges that Greek society has to confront. However, the aspect of social change of this specific society has not received equal or systematic attention. Young Greeks are now experiencing a different social reality (in relation to older generations) which is characterised (inter alia) by uncertainty, insecurity, mobility and the incapability to produce specific projections for their future lives.

Greek young generation is now called to resolves social anomalies inherited by older generations. Such social discontinuities concerning aspects of Greek mentality which are not effective any more, such as the demand for a permanent life-lasting job and a secured pension, the expectation of state support (in terms of health, education, unemployment), the desire for rapid social mobility and social recognition and the anticipated power gained through social networks. Greeks are now called to reform economy, policies and social reality but they are also called to change old practices, established mentalities, and more importantly ways of living. Such alterations are related to the aspects of uncertainty, insecurity and constant readjustment to a new reality. This new social reality may include repeated relocation, continues job hunting, constant seek to access to new information and technologies. In that sense, young Greek generation is now called to reform current Greek society and also be reformed by it”.

Canada Blanch Room,
COW 1.11 (J.116), 1st floor, Cowdray House,
European Institute, LSE,
Portugal Street,
London WC2A 2AE.