Benefaction in Modern Greece
Greece is a country with a modern, independent existence ranging just two centuries back. Still it is a society with deep roots in history and with an equally strong sense of collective belonging – also with an important, quite successful Diaspora. So, when the newly formed Greek State had to build social infrastructure, from education to health to transport etc., it relied heavily on donations coming from successful Greeks, mainly of the Diaspora. These donations supplemented its meagre fiscal resources.
This saga of benefaction that evolved subsequantly is the object of “Benefaction in Modern Greece: Theory and History”, a book by Matoula Tomara-Sideris, Professor of Historical Demography and Cultural Attitudes, published by Kerkyra Publications-economia Publishing.
From individualism to social cohesiveness
The main feature of the Greek communities in Egypt was – almost by definition – the successful individualism expressed by tradesmen who were engaged in international trade, transport and (increasingly) finance. So it is a matter of some interest to track the ways in which individualism blended into forms of social cohesion – allowing for benefaction to emerge.
