tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777210255040195387.post5808656008252751275..comments2024-03-17T09:15:25.957+00:00Comments on LOL GREECE: U CAN HAZ TIPPING POINTManoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01568922717477813566noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777210255040195387.post-91996933792254177422022-01-03T07:48:54.080+00:002022-01-03T07:48:54.080+00:00I really hope that this situation in Greece gets b...I really hope that this situation in Greece gets better soon. I used to work as a lecturer in Greece but due to civil unrest I had to leave there and work as an <a href="https://www.usessaywriter.com/essay-writing-services-in-boston/" rel="nofollow">Essay Writing Service in Boston</a> in a completely different environment. Now; I’m happy in the place I am but still I wish the best for Greece and its citizens. <br />Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681224698166600556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777210255040195387.post-87812903340039445882011-02-16T21:23:59.395+00:002011-02-16T21:23:59.395+00:00@Manos2:
For the benefit of Greek readers, or re...@Manos2: <br /><br />For the benefit of Greek readers, or readers who understand some of the nuances of Greek nationalism, I should note that this is a FYROM-agnostic blog. This means that you can call our northern neighbour 'Macedonia' or 'the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' which, to anyone who is not hopelessly cretinous, is the same. You can use the name Skopje for the actual city of the same name but not for the nation.<br /><br />Now, to answer your point, I would refer you to my Zeitgeist Vignettes post. Every new wave of immigrants is seen (even by other immigrants) as worse than the one that came before and, insofar as desperation breeds violence and crime, they are.<br /><br />I think it's fair to say that nationalist Greeks are suspicious of any large population of immigrants, regardless of origin or generation. Their concern is not how well integrated they are but how many they are and how cohesive they are among themselves. Any population capable of a riot (regardless of whether the majority of said population joins or even supports it) is seen as dangerous.<br /><br />Hence, although Albanians in Greece may be 'well integrated' from their own perspective (I would qualify that) or yours, they are a 'threat' to Greek nationalists. In times of unrest, this makes them vulnerable to attack. Once on the receiving end of ethnic or racial violence, most populations will tend to retaliate in kind.<br /><br />So, if we hold immigrant behaviour constant, are Greek nationalists likely to cause trouble? According to this paper, Greek 'racism' is mostly constructed in terms of Occupation and Culture: http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~cbail/BailASR08.pdf <br /><br />The closest comparator to us is Hungary, with whom we share many other concerns these days. I suggest you look at how their immigrant communities are doing. It doesn't look good, btw. In 2009, as their economy plunged, the extremist elements of the Hungarian people went after the country's Roma population, which was a long-standing target, as opposed to other marginalised groups. Then again, Hungary is a net exporter of immigrants, so perhaps this is to be expected.Manoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01568922717477813566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4777210255040195387.post-62513638389336125722011-02-16T06:57:05.101+00:002011-02-16T06:57:05.101+00:00I found myself in Macedonia during last weekend...I found myself in Macedonia during last weekend's clashes between ethnic Macedonian and Albanian groups over a planned church in the Albanian district of Skopje. Interestingly enough, it's planned to be built on the local equivalent of the Acropolis.<br /><br />Therefore, it led to a number of discussions about Albanians and other migrants in Greece - I was making the point that for some reason, our government's failed immigration and rather racist minority policy has delivered some solid long-term integration benefits - where Albanians have largely sought to integrate with the Greek population, send their children to the same schools, eat and drink in the same places and try and buy houses in the affluent parts of the city.<br /><br />Therefore, for the sake of clarity, it would be useful to point out that the problem is located mainly with the South Asian and African migrant workers in the country. Which is quite interesting for a Balkan country: a conflict with nationalist tendencies that has nothing to do with our usual habit of criminalizing our neighbour, but rather with things like the standard of living, etc, etc.<br /><br />Of course, all the idiots that vote far-right and neo-Nazi would most probably be happy with everyone to gtfo. But if your fears are right and we do get wide civil unrest, it would be interesting to see whether the Balkan migrants in Greece would be affected. My guess is that they won't.Manoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613794184207211311noreply@blogger.com