Economic and political uncertainties, the specter of touristification, and the story of Greek shipping
With the summer season in full swing, it’s not just vacations, the islands, and pristine beaches that are top of mind for Greeks. Global uncertainty, crises in the Middle East, a cost of living crisis, and the specter of touristification remain key concerns, and tackling these challenges is going to be tricky as Greece inches toward national elections.
The economy is obviously at the heart of many discussions, and while Greece is on a much stronger financial footing today than in the previous decade, it will still need to move carefully if it’s going to weather the twin storms of global uncertainty and political changes at home.
That’s the focus of the Greek government as Prime Minister Mitsotakis engages with voters across the country and prepares an economic package for the Thessaloniki International Fair in September, one that he hopes will boost his party’s chances in the elections.
A key element of this discussion is also inevitably going to be whether Greece’s key industries - tourism and shipping - can continue to serve as drivers of economic growth. When it comes to tourism, Greece has seen record numbers of visitors over the years. This success, however, is also raising important concerns about over-tourism, even on more remote Cycladic islands like Amorgos.
When it comes to shipping, Greece’s global position is unquestionable, and Greek ships are critical for the global economy. Much of this success comes down to a long tradition of seamanship, but also to a unique development in the 20th century involving the US in the wake of World War II.
Thanos Davelis digs into all of these issues and stories this week with experts Wolfango Piccoli, Nick Malkoutzis, Alia Malek, and John Psaropoulos.
A little more info on our guests:
Wolfango Piccoli is the head of geopolitics at the London-based CEO and board advisory firm Consello.
Nick Malkoutzis is the co-founder of Macropolis.gr.
Alia Malek is an author and journalist whose story "Breaking Ground: A road, a port, and the specter of touristification on the small Greek island of Amorgos" was recently published.
John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist, Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe, and publisher of Hellenica on Substack.
You can support The Greek Current by joining HALC as a member here.