The 7-episode mini-documentary series, “Disasters and Triumphs”, is a journey into our past, through seven great historical circles of our history that share common elements: ambitious plans, great disasters but also impressive triumphs.
On Thursday 20 and Friday 21 January, Stathis Kalyvas investigates the events that took place between the years 1950-1974 and 1974-2004 respectively.
Thursday, January 20th
Episode 5 – The Democratic Revolution: 1950-1974
1967: Dictatorship
1950: Development
1958: Healing the Civil War
1974: The Democratic Revolution
The economic miracle of the twenty years 1950-1970 is unique and leads the country to its final exit from underdevelopment and poverty. Economic success, however, does not guarantee political development.
Is the country trying to heal the wounds of the Civil War but finding it difficult to obtain the political institutions that ensure the equal participation of all in a stable, just and democratic state? The coup of April 1967 and its tragic end with the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974 is the culmination of the political failure of post-war Greece.
The dictatorship claimed that it would put an end to the chaos created by the politicians, but in 1974 it led to a great national catastrophe. But through this catastrophe, another triumph will spring up: the democratic revolution of 1974.
In just 10 months, a series of political deadlocks that had plagued the country for decades were overcome: political prisoners were released, the Communist Party was legitimized, the free movement of ideas was guaranteed, coup plotters were ousted, free elections were held and the country gained modern the institution of Basel is finally over. In 1974, the country gained the most democratic and liberal government ever in its history. And this would have been impossible to achieve if in the previous period both the society and its political leadership had not matured.
Friday 21 January
Episode 6 – From socialism to the euro: 1974-2004
1989: The Metapolitism in crisis
1974: A new regime
1981: The PASOK phenomenon
1990: A new “Big Idea”
In 1974, the country acquires the most democratic and liberal state it has ever had in its history. A few years later it became a member of the European Economic Community, a closed club of the richest and most developed countries in Europe. At the same time, however, the expectations of a radically changing society are growing, expectations for even greater freedoms and more prosperity.
The political system is called upon to manage these increased expectations in a difficult economic situation. In 1981, a new party, PASOK, came to power. He argues that the key to meeting these expectations is socialism.
His policies initially had a strong political and economic imprint, but in 1989 they led to a major crisis: a huge corruption scandal, the sudden serious illness of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and the scandal of his personal life, the extreme polarization with widespread elections that create the feeling of powerlessness, the social unrest with daily strikes and demonstrations, the successive terrorist attacks and the specter of bankruptcy compose an image of decline and collapse.
Just fifteen years after the fall of the dictatorship, the Metapolitism seems to be shaking. Eventually, however, the country will not only avoid collapse, but within the next twenty years will achieve an impressive economic recovery, gaining unprecedented levels of prosperity. This is because in the 1990s, the political system and society will revolve around a very ambitious plan: the country’s participation in the new European currency, the euro. For the first time in its history, Greece will be at the core of Europe. The country will enter the new millennium radiating economic strength, geopolitical superiority and confidence. It seems to have entered a completely new trajectory, to have been promoted.
DISASTERS AND TRIUMPH
Mini documentary series by Stathis Kalyvas Every Thursday and Friday at 21.00, on SKAI
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