Clientelism will not avail Greek ruling party in 2019

Significance

The agreement settles the Macedonian ‘name dispute' that has bedevilled bilateral relations since the mid-1990s. Foreign, not social, issues have taken centre stage in politics. Yet the economic crisis is not over for many socio-economic groups: the economic recovery is fragile and social assistance still haphazard.

Impacts

• Enduring economic inequalities will disincentivise the highly skilled young who will prefer opportunities abroad to low-paid jobs in Greece.
• Syriza’s reversal of modernising education reforms will deepen inequalities with many failing to gain the skills needed in the 21st century.
• Inequalities may further radicalise frustrated youth, feeding into far-right anti-parliamentarism or left-wing urban terrorism.