I will survive: Modern Greek Studies ply forward at universities internationally

By Marni Papamatthaiou

The viability of Modern Greek Studies programmes at universities around the world has been an issue for decades.

How can about 200 programmes for the teaching and dissemination of Greek language and culture - 65 of them incorporated in the classics departments of universities - survive when the Greek state does nothing whatsoever to support them?

In the US, which is the citadel of Modern Greek studies around the world, citizens and professors have undertaken a particular brand of activism that demonstrates that Hellenic culture, which  historically reached all corners of the known world, still has its own way of surviving and spreading its wings.

It is supported by diaspora communities, private donors, and active members of the younger generation.

The Modern Greek Studies programme at Ohio State University is a case in point.

"Let's talk about the meaning of Greek-American culture. Modern Greek Studies programmes are dynamic loci of that culture as they not only have high-level educational programmes but also act as a vehicle for the transmission of values to society. They constitute a vital space of cultural democracy," Yorgos Anagnostou, the director of the programme, told To Vima.

Emphasis on innovation

Founded in 1870, Ohio State is one of the largest and oldest public universities in the US and has about 60,000 students and an endowment of seven billion dollars. It is ranked among the twenty top public universities and is among the 12 top universities in research in the US.  It recently placed among the top universities in terms of innovation. It boasts 12,000 programmes in 18 faculties and has 200 different academic centres and institutes.