INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Greece – A Year in Crisis Examining the Social and Political Impact of an ­Unprecedented Austerity Programme NICK MALKOUTZIS June 2011 „ „ Greece has taken significant steps towards getting its public finances back on track. But the efforts of the government have placed a heavy burden on most Greeks. „ „ The social impact of the crisis is seen through a record unemployment rate, the clo­sure of businesses, and an increasing number of people facing social exclusion. „ „ Whereas the Greek society has reacted with considerable maturity, there is a grow­ing estrangement between society and the political system represented by the two major parties PASOK and Nea Dimokratia. „ „ To sustain support for new measures, three issues must be tackled: Burden sharing and fairness, the Greek public sector, and the unobjective political debate.