Slippery slope

The Greek political system has a unique ability to lose its bearings and sink to terrible lows. When this happens, it tends to involve the country in a lot of unnecessary drama, as everything becomes deeply personal and mercenary. The rules of civilized discourse are abolished, so there are no off-limits topics and no limits to the low-blows. Institutions are turned into tools and division is made a weapon.

The people also tend to get carried away by the protagonists' passion; we are a Mediterranean people and easily excited or disappointed. Before 1974, when the political system began to unravel, this usually resulted in the rise of military movements or in national division and strife. The army was a powerful factor that would intervene when the politicians failed. The great powers were also active in the background, intervening to control the game.

Thankfully that...