Until recently, the transition was considered a successful case of building a sound democratic system. According to this perspective, the transition from dictatorship to democracy was smooth, the latter was quickly established, and the period that followed was characterized by political, social, and economic achievements that promised a better future.
However, with the onset of the economic crisis, a discourse prevailed in the public sphere, according to which the so-called "culture of the Transition" is responsible for many, if not all, the ills of Greek society: clientelistic relationships, the guild organization of the state and the economy, phenomena of violence and lawlessness, fiscal deviation, corruption, populism.
This is a new interpretation of recent history, which questions and challenges what has been considered achievements so far. The recent public debate necessitated the investigation and historical understanding of this period. Through critical utilization of important previous research and the formulation of new questions and the creation of new fields, this collective volume reflects the themes, trends, and directions of contemporary studies on the Transition. Different contributions examine the politics of memory, the ideological and cultural currents of the era, the attitudes and behaviors of the youth, collective actions and social practices, the complex relationship between politics and culture, the possibilities of comparative approach to "transitions" from authoritarian and dictatorial regimes to democracy. The book attempts to highlight the rich mosaic of the Greek Transition, from the fall of the dictatorship to the recent crisis, within its historical framework, beyond uncritical idealization or demonization.