Europeanisation under authoritarian rule: Greek business and the hoped-for transition to electoral politics, 1967–1974

Abstract

The paper addresses the domestic impact of the freezing of the Greek association with the EEC on business-government relations during the colonels' dictatorship in Greece (1967-74).Focusing on the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV), I argue that in the face of the Europeanisation of Greek industry, Greek business embarked upon a strategy prioritising liberalisation as a means towards rapprochement with the EEC. But this strategy was not part of a pro-democracy agenda. On the contrary, seeking a viable political regime and future accession to the EEC, SEV supported an abortive authoritarian transition to electoral politics in 1973.

Shipping Tycoons and Authoritarian Rulers: Doing the Oil Business with the Greek Dictatorship, 1967–1974

“…Moreover, the Greek colonels attempted to take advantage of shipowning capital to increase supposed national control of the oil industry without excluding the oil majors. Greece at that point, however, was already experiencing a transition to trade liberalization as part of its association agreement with the EEC signed in 1961, leaving behind import substitution industrialization (Tsakas 2018), an earlier stage of development that, according to scholarship on business groups, enhances their bargaining position in relation to multinationals (Guillén 2000).…”

“…More recently, historians of European integration have made use of newly released documents from European organizations and have addressed the impact of the freezing of the association agreement between Greece and the EEC (originally signed in 1961) and Greece's forced withdrawal from the Council of Europe (Fernández Soriano 2017;Varsori 2008). Few studies, however, have focused on societal actors and domestic developments with regard to the transition dynamics under the military regime (for recent exceptions, see Kornetis 2013;Tsakas 2018). Much of the literature has instead focused on democratic transition and consolidation in the early post-dictatorial years, and has thus largely overlooked the subtle processes of the divisions within the colonels' old guard and the anti-elite turn in the latter stage of the dictatorship (Karamanolakis, Nikolakopoulos, and Sakellaropoulos 2016;Sourlas 2016).…”

“…Thus, shipowning capital came to control about a quarter of Greece's top hundred companies in the manufacturing sector in 1973, dominating the oil (85%) and shipbuilding (74%) industries (Bank of Greece 1992;Giannitsis 1985, 323 and 328;Harlaftis 1993, 79-89 and 197). The influx of foreign capital, a good part of which was owned by Greeks based outside Greece, was largely the outcome of a business-friendly policy embarked on by the colonels (Tsakas 2015). This reshuffle and the resulting strengthening of the shipowners under the colonels needs further examination.…”

The Role of Greek Shipowners in the Revival of Northern European Shipyards in the 1950s

“…Hamburg, one of the big European ports Miller studies, became synonymous for the German shipyards along with a few other shipbuilding hubs, 5 Ramirez Perez (2010) and Rollings and Kipping (2008). For a recent account, see Tsakas (2018). 6 Miller (2012) and .…”

Shipping and Globalization in the Post-War Era

“…Ramirez Perez (2010) andRollings and Kipping (2008). For a recent account, seeTsakas (2018).6 Miller (2012) and.7 Carlisle (1981) 8. SeeStopford (1997) for an introduction to the distinctions between the various segments.…”