The focus of this thesis entails the sociological assessment of political corruption within Greece’s culture and how it has influenced the nation’s present economic status. This investigation is important in order to assess the political and societal causes of Greece’s economic crisis in accordance with the state’s survival in the Eurozone. The research approach adopted in this dissertation includes theoretical evaluations of political corruption, an analysis of the democratic groundwork in Greece, and an extended review of the Ottoman Empire’s taxation methods. The findings of this analysis provide evidence that the governments of Greece reciprocally influenced the fiscal disposition of the private sector, which in turn nominated the governments based on individual preferences. This cycle is a result of the public sector’s mismanagement and the inability to establish an efficient structure upon with the society can fully rely. Thus, the main conclusions drawn from this study are that the Ottoman Empire and its tax ratiocination is a precursor for the nation’s current tax evasion norm, the democratic foundation upon which the political sphere was built caused incentive for bureaucratic corruption, and through the undermining of the society during unorganized government transitions emerged local corruption practices. This dissertation found that these factors contributed heavily, if not caused, the recession in Greece during the Eurozone crisis.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Defining ‘political corruption’:
Asserting the meaning of the term used throughout this thesis
4. The Ottoman Empire:
Understanding Greece’s background in peasant exploitation
5. Political Violence in Greece:
Assessing the foundation upon which Greece’s current democracy rests
6. Local Corruption and Tax Mentality:
Examining the society’s approach to tax evasion and bribery
7. Bureaucratic Corruption:
Scrutinizing main political scandals and theories of political corruption
8. Present-day Greece:
Analysing Greece’s current characteristics as a result of tax evasion and political corruption
9. Conclusion
10. References
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the sociological and historical roots of political corruption in Greece and its direct impact on the nation's economic instability during the Eurozone crisis. The research aims to link past governance structures—specifically Ottoman taxation methods and post-Junta political transitions—to contemporary clientelistic practices, widespread tax evasion, and bureaucratic mismanagement.
- The historical evolution of Greek corruption from the Ottoman era to modern statehood.
- The relationship between political clientelism, voter patronage, and the inflation of the public sector.
- The cultural normalization of tax evasion and its role as a mechanism of resistance.
- The analysis of high-profile political scandals and their contribution to Greece's financial depletion.
Excerpt from the Book
4. The Ottoman Empire
To fully understand the premise upon which Greece is facing economic troubles, the very first accounts of political corruption must be sought out. The Ottoman Empire is known for its very active tax base and economic turnover since the 14th century. The peasants during this period were generating the revenues by paying extensive taxes and fees, eventually the generally negative treatment by the bureaucracy set the foundation of Greek civil society today. During the Ottoman regime, every economic activity was a tax opportunity for the state (Genc p. 83 cited in Kus, 2006). A notoriously used method of collecting revenue from the peasantry was tax farming, known as the ‘Ilitizam’ system. This procedure was designed for short periods of time when the treasury was depleted from funding war expenses or economic deprivation. However, in the long-term, this eventually led to the erosion of the Empire’s complete tax base (Fleet, 2003).
The Ilitizam system was implemented because the Timar system was not taking advantage of the potential profits between the production and consumption of goods. Based on socio-economic military efficiency, the Timar system proved ineffective for the growing demands of the state (Islamoglu-Inan-Gilbar, 1997). Therefore, government agents, often notables and major wealth holders (Karaman & Pamuk, 2010), became tax collectors and acted as the intermediaries between the farmers and the consuming population (Islamoglu-Inan-Gilbar, 1997). As the population of the empire grew, mass pressure was exerted on the agricultural regions to increase their production of goods. Simultaneously, toward the late 16th century, the rulers of the Ottoman state were deemed absolute and could impose any taxes on the public without their consent (Barkey, 1991). This means that the Empire’s lands and people were “considered the Sultan’s patrimony (Karaman & Pamuk, 2010 p.599)” and the population was expected pay rent, taxes, labour fees and other charges.
Summary of Chapters
1. Abstract: Provides a comprehensive overview of the thesis, connecting Ottoman-era taxation, clientelism, and political corruption to Greece's modern economic crisis.
2. Introduction: Outlines the research focus, investigating how historical acts of political corruption and culture influence Greece's economic performance during the Eurozone crisis.
3. Defining ‘political corruption’: Explores the philosophical and cultural definitions of corruption, emphasizing the role of 'fakelaki' as an accepted social practice in Greece.
4. The Ottoman Empire: Analyzes the historical origins of Greek tax evasion, focusing on the exploitative Ilitizam tax-farming system and its lasting impact on civil society.
5. Political Violence in Greece: Examines the legacy of military dictatorship and democratic transition, detailing how political instability invited corrupt influences and undermined public trust.
6. Local Corruption and Tax Mentality: Discusses the distinction between state-induced corruption and everyday public corrupt transactions, highlighting how systemic clientelism shapes economic behavior.
7. Bureaucratic Corruption: Investigates high-level political scandals and the role of secret agreements, specifically analyzing how political parties manipulate funds and public office for personal gain.
8. Present-day Greece: Details the current fiscal environment, where political mismanagement, austerity measures, and continued tax evasion exacerbate the economic crisis.
9. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, reiterating that Greece's economic downfall is a result of deep-seated historical and systemic cycles of corruption and clientelism.
10. References: Lists the academic, media, and statistical sources supporting the research.
Keywords
Greece, Eurozone crisis, Political corruption, Clientelism, Tax evasion, Ottoman Empire, Bureaucracy, Austerity measures, Fiscal policy, Moral economy, Political scandals, Ilitizam, Economic deprivation, Social unrest, Public sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The research investigates the historical and sociological causes of political corruption in Greece, analyzing how past political behaviors and state structures have culminated in the modern economic crisis.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the impact of Ottoman-era taxation, the development of clientelism, the consequences of political instability during democratic transitions, and the cultural normalization of tax evasion.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to determine how persistent political corruption has influenced Greece's current economic status and why traditional reforms have struggled to address the underlying systemic issues.
Which methodology is applied in the study?
The study employs a qualitative sociological assessment, utilizing historical analysis of the Ottoman Empire, reviews of political violence, and examinations of modern-day political scandals and corruption indices.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body chapters cover the definition of political corruption, the historical origins in the Ottoman Empire, the impact of the post-Junta political environment, the rise of the Greek 'fakelaki' culture, and the role of bureaucratic scandals in the Eurozone era.
Which keywords best describe this dissertation?
The most relevant keywords include Greece, Eurozone crisis, political corruption, clientelism, tax evasion, bureaucracy, and moral economy.
How does the author connect Ottoman history to the modern economic crisis?
The author argues that the Ottoman 'Ilitizam' system fostered a culture of exploitation and lack of trust in the state, which translated into modern-day tax evasion and an expectation that the state is a source of personal gain rather than public service.
What role does 'fakelaki' play in the analysis?
'Fakelaki' is identified as a culturally accepted form of 'money-under-the-table' exchange that enables citizens to navigate inefficient bureaucracy, serving as a primary example of how corruption has become ingrained in Greek daily life.
How did the democratization process impact corruption in Greece?
The research suggests that the rapid and often unstable transition from military dictatorship created power vacuums and political incentives for parties to buy support through public sector expansion and clientelistic rewards, rather than building a stable democratic foundation.
What is the conclusion regarding the potential for reform in Greece?
The dissertation concludes that structural reforms are hindered by the deeply entrenched nature of political clientelism and a history of mismanagement, making it difficult for the state to move beyond these systemic failures while the underlying 'moral economy' persists.
- Citation du texte
- Saskia Andresen (Auteur), 2013, Eurozone Crisis. Theoretical Case Study of Greece's Political Corruption, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/294285
