Greece’s ‘new’ Diaspora strategy, or PASOK redux?

Despite grand rhetoric about an upgraded relationship, Greece’s strategic plan for its Diaspora communities seems more like a step back than forward—missing inclusivity, budget clarity, and genuine engagement

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis talks at a joint session of Congress, in 2022, in Washington, he was also one hopes, talking to the US Greek DIaspora. Photo: AAP/Evan Vucci

Kostas Karamarkos
10 December 2024 3:58pm

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Since the ascendancy to power in 2019 in Greece, of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, there has been much talk about the Greek diasporic communities around the globe. The big spin is how the New Democracy government, is upgrading the relationship and is taking it at another higher and better level with the new Strategic Plan – which is in effect a rehash of policies of previous (Pasok) governments of 30 years ago.

There has been a lot of talk but without others – a discussion without diasporic communities, or opposition parties in Greece.

The first and most obvious point is to upgrade the relationship, one needs the implementation of new policies which make the Diasporic communities – real partners and contributors to Greece’s policy initiatives. Moreover, Diaspora are essential to the grand narratives of global Hellenism and of Greece.

The second point is that digital technology on its own, regardless of its innovative implementation, cannot replace human relations and interactions.

Finally, you cannot have an upgraded relationship with global Diaspora Hellenism, when for example, the budget of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad is in the vicinity of five million euros, roughly $8.3 million Australian dollars, and 75 per cent of the budget goes to wages and salaries.

You can’t have a serious policy and relationship between Greece and its various diasporic communities without knowing for example, how much in total other Greek government departments spend to reach out to global Hellenism.

These are the real issues that we must take up, with the current Greek government, every time an occasion arises – to ignite discussions and develop policies that advance the common good.

In a recent interview the Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Giorgos Kotsiras – the minister responsible for the Greek Diaspora said, “For the first time we have a cohesive comprehensive long-term plan with 100 operational actions” which sadly seems to be PR and government spin.

Kostas Karamarkos, a veteran journalist, was a senior adviser to the PASOK government in the late 1990s to the early 2000s.