Decoding Trust in Greece: A Lecture by Stathis Kalyvas
On Friday, January 31, Professor Stathis Kalyvas of Yale University and the University of Oxford delivered a guest lecture in the Bissell Library on the issue of trust in contemporary Greece.
Professor Kalyvas presented the findings of a recent research project conducted in northern Greece, specifically in Thessaloniki and Drama. He also discussed different methodological approaches that can be used to supplement potential gaps in the outcomes of survey-based research, notably extended interviews and an interpersonal simulation.
The problem Kalyvas sought to address in his project has to do with a paradox contrasting attitudes with behavior: Greeks are reported to be among the least trusting -- and trustworthy -- people in Europe, yet in practice, their behavior often belies profoundly this common stereotype. Is it accurate to assert that Greek society is “low-trust?”
To elucidate the paradox, Kalyvas and a research partner interviewed a sizable sample of locals in Drama about their views regarding the concept of trust. It was observed that despite their initial view that they generally distrust others, about half of the interviewees would offer help to a stranger, showing that, in practice, they exhibited a basic level of trust towards foreigners.
The research demonstrated that Greeks actually attribute a deeper significance to the concept of trust than northern Europeans. While Greece’s neighbors and partners share a largely transactional view of trust, the Greek experience leans closer toward intimacy and even love. A lively discussion ensued, touching on questions of sociology, ethics, political theory, and research methodology.
Professor Kalyvas’ visit was coordinated by ACT Professors Dr. Maria Kyriakidou and Christos Aliprantis, the latter of whom moderated the event. Professor Kalyvas appeared with the support of the Dukakis Center.
