Greece on the Road to Democracy: From the Junta to PASOK, 1974–1986 (review)

Reviews 281 Français et des Hures sur la Grèce. Guide établi par le Centre de la Traduction Littéraire et Pétros Papadopouhs aux éditions de l'Institut Français d'Athènes (Athens, 1990). But these are minor works and not as complete as Philippides's. It would be very useful if we had similar bibliographies for translations of Modern Greek literature into other major languages, such as Spanish, German, Russian etc. This would help not only to show die number of translations of individual writers but also, and primarily, to study the impact of Modern Greek literature in different countries and to assess the impact of Modern Greek studies in the outside world as a whole. For die time being, the only work that can help die student and the scholar for all the above purposes, in a limited way, is my own Βιβλιογϕαφίαμεταφϕάσεωννεοελληνικήςλογοτεχνίας(Athens:EterÃ-aEllinikú Logotehnikú ke Istorikú ArhÃ-u, 1986, 318 pages). In her introducüon Philippides makes interesting observations, gives analytical guidelines for the use of her work, anticipates with acuity any criticism, and also suggests further studies that result from her book. In her previous book, H θυσία του Αβϕαάμ στον υπολογιστή, λεξιλογικοί πίνακες και υφολογικά σχόλια (Athens: Ermis, 1986), she shows not only the value of the computer for research in Modern Greek literature but also her sensitivity and ability in making use of factual information. This check-list may not die have the same originality, but it proves to be equally well-worked in every detail. All of us working in the field of Modern Greek studies look forward to a new, revised, and enlarged edition of this book. Although no published bibliography accomplishes its intention completely, this one is particularly useful and valuable—flius our desire for its reissue from time to time in updated form. Erasmia-Louiza Stavropoulou University of Athens Speros Vryonis, Jr. editor, Greece on the Road to Democracy: From the funta to PASOK 1974-1986. Published under the auspices of the Speros Basil Vryonis Center for The Study of Hellenism. New Rochelle, New York: A. D. Caratzas. 1991. Pp. xvi + 402. $60.00 This volume of nineteen essays is die outgrowth of a conference held in 1987 at UCLA. As die title reveals, the focus is on postjunta developments of Greek affairs. The timing of the volume has left an evident trace: the subject matter is directed more to PASOK policies in die 1980s than to the full postjunta period. The coverage of areas and topics is very wide. It ranges from foreign policy to literature, painting, and the Hellenic diaspora. The four year lag between die time of the conference and die publication of the volume is potentially worrisome: a collection of essays mat seeks to analyze current developments can become outdated by later events. Indeed, many tilings have 282 Reviews changed in Greece and its international environment since 1986. Yet, the volume retains a certain timeliness. Trends mat began in the mid-eighties have continued to this day. Furthermore, new events may accumulate but old structures may also remain. Analyses of deeper "structural" problems of die mideighties are substantially valid today. The first part of the volume pertains to Greek politics; it contains essays on the major political parties, Nea Dimokratia (ND) and PASOK, written by Katsoudas and Diamandouros, respectively. These parties underwent significant change in the early post-junta period. ND remained ambivalent in ideology, according to Katsoudas, until the eighties. The ambivalence between liberal and social democratic models coincided with extension of die public sector when ND held power. It was only after its defeat in 1981 that the party took on a clearly "liberal" conservative face and preached the need to shrink die public sector. PASOK began as a party of clear principles, embodying hopes for a radical break widi the past. Its platform turned progressively more vague so as to attract heterogeneous strata of "non-privileged" voters. As governing party, PASOK became a prisoner of what Diamandouros perceptively calls an "equation of political empowerment with social and economic entidements"; this created the structural base for persistent fiscal deficits. Two issues remain unexplored, however, mainly because of die choice of themes. The focus on the two parties gives an impression...