Political cleavages in Greece 1981-2019: The brahmin left and the effects of the crisis

Panos Tsoukalis () and Nikos Stravelakis
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Panos Tsoukalis: New School for Social Research

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Abstract: In this paper, we apply the political cleavage methodology to Greece. In this regard, we have put together a political attitudes survey database covering the period 1981-2019. Our analysis indicates that Greece is an important exception to the trajectory of political cleavages found in other liberal Western democracies. Firstly, the Greek income cleavage turns positive (high income voters support left-wing parties) as early as the 1990s despite the explicitly socialist character of the Greek left. This is a unique phenomenon. Secondly, the Eurozone version of the 2008 crisis brought a large change in the electoral composition of the Greek left, turning the income cleavage back to negative territory. This was reflected in the replacement of the moderate PASOK by the radical SYRIZA. The latter enjoyed (at least until 2023) significant support among popular classes and low-income voters. Thirdly, Greece has had a Brahmin left (high education voters support left-wing parties) at least ever since 1981. That is, for Greece the emergence of the Brahmin left is not a recent phenomenon. In tandem, these observations imply that Greece fits very uncomfortably in the political cleavages typology. We suggest that the inclusive and redistributive role of tertiary education, along with the cultural dualism that characterises Greek political culture could explain why this is the case.

Date: 2024-02
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