Considering that knowledge of recent history is essential for understanding the world we live in, the book attempts to develop some central issues, rather than simply presenting a list of events, names, and dates.
This aim inevitably made it selective, however, the interconnected aspects of Greek history chosen by the author are at the center of interest for most historians. The work of David Close, a professor of history at Flinders University in Australia, is the only concise presentation of post-war Greek history thus far.
Rich and vivid, it has already gained international recognition. Its main originality lies in systematically comparing Greece's evolution with that of other Southern European countries - Italy, Spain, and Portugal. David Close provides us with a rich synthesis based on the study of a large volume of material, ranging from official documents to newspaper articles and television programs.
The author does not limit himself to political history but dedicates separate chapters to the economy, international relations, and social developments. He addresses issues such as the collapse of older agricultural values, the rising prosperity, and the prevalence of modern lifestyles, reaching up to the mass influx of migrants and the politics of the Archbishop of Athens.
The core of his narrative is the convergence of Greece with the advanced societies of Western Europe, within the framework of the European Union. [Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]
