Technocrats economists in the Greek political scene 1974-2019

The economic crisis of the 2010s shifted the attention of the public, journalists, and politicians to economists, who were called upon to identify the causes and ways to overcome the crisis. They gained greater visibility and prestige and found themselves at the top of political power (such as Prime Ministers Papademos in Greece and Monti in Italy). However, the relationship between economists and politics has a broader social and historical depth.

Traversing the political history of four decades, the author explores, beyond stereotypical impressions, questions such as the following: How is the technocratization of politics related to economic globalization? Are technocrats necessarily proponents of neoliberalism? Is their involvement in shaping economic policy related to the retreat of politics and democracy?

In the pages of the book, the reader will find an original sociological study of the technocrats/technopoliticians of Greek economic policy. From G. Arsenis to G. Alogoskoufis, G. Stournaras, G. Varoufakis, and many others, the careers, networks, and strategies of those who contributed decisively to this policy as ministers, advisors, experts, and bank governors are analyzed. The heterodox technocrats, the pro-European technopoliticians, the members of neoliberal think tanks, and the left-wing academics who compose the competitive field of a cosmopolitan political-professional elite are sketched out. (From the book's back cover description)