The Europeanization of Greek foreign policy: Progress, challenges and strategies

This study aims to present the ongoing Europeanization in Greek Foreign Policy and the simultaneous transformation of Greek nationalism. The main focus is given to the ?U Turn? in Greek foreign policy since 1996 which led to the decline of the nationalistic discourse and stance in Greek Foreign Policy. Also, the breaking points in Greek foreign policy are examined.Greece became the member of the European Economic Community in 1981, with a political culture that had been different from all other members. Its Orthodox religion, strategic location in Southeastern Europe, experience of Ottoman rule for four hundred years, a weak and underdeveloped economy and turbulent political history made Greece a country which is worth evaluating within the European Union.Since its membership, Greece acted with a feeling of otherness by disassociating itself from the rest of the Europe. The country was regarded as the `black sheep? of the European Union, considering its economically backwardness, nationalistic discourse in foreign policy and its great reluctance for adaptation to the EU rules. Greece was seen as a small and nationalist Balkan country that was not in line with the European values and norms. However, since 1996, Greece has been experiencing a rapid transformation from being a `Balkan country in the European Union? to a `European actor? in the field of foreign policy. Nationalistic discourse was decreased in Greek Foreign Policy and was replaced with less emotional and more realistic European values.