Greek phlegm and British drama

The United Kingdom has always been considered a model country for supporters of Western political culture. Its institutions have endured over the centuries, and political confrontations, though they could become intense, never crossed certain lines. Supposedly the British establishment had the wisdom to open itself up to new blood and talent without ever succumbing to the pressures of the times.

The best product of the British establishment, former Conservative prime minister David Cameron, made a fatal mistake. Instead of acting with the confidence of a leader, he pushed his country into endless turmoil. Now everything in Britain is being tested: the institutions, its political system and its economy.

We Greeks are watching the unfolding of a situation which is somewhat paradoxical. The British are quarreling bitterly among themselves in various fora. The great...