How western is the republic of Greece and its locals?
Vote #1 Goru Yamato: Goru Yamato’s answer to Are Greeks truly “western”? How can they be western if they are orthodox? In that case, why aren’t the other orthodox countries considered western? Μπράβο σας, Γιαμάτο-σάμα!
I’ll just add that the struggle between the Hellenic and the Romaic, the Western and the Eastern orientation of Greece, was a defining cultural conflict within Greece. Greeks were not Westerners on the foundation of the Modern Greek State. Greeks had to be taught they are Westerners. A lot of Greek culture is still not Western. And Greeks throughout the 19th century, and well into the 20th, referred to Western Europeans as Franks. Which they wouldn’t do if they considered themselves Western Europeans.
The term Franks has fallen into disuse in the past generation or two. Not coincidentally, Greeks have embraced the project of the European Union: for all that they loathe Germany right now and are pushed against the wall, they really do want to stay in.
Greek culture has been in transition; but then, all cultures always are. More importantly though, Greeks themselves have come to embrace a Western identity. Which matters more.
… What are you doing here still? Vote #1 Goru Yamato: Goru Yamato’s answer to Are Greeks truly “western”? How can they be western if they are orthodox? In that case, why aren’t the other orthodox countries considered western?