The Immigrant Case

Greece has had a homogenous population until the last couple decades. The first wave of immigration 20 years ago brought thousands of Albanians, when communism collapsed in the neigboring country, and the last decade has seen an influx of immigrants from Africa and the East - they\'re mostly people who see Greece as the threshold to the EU and a better life. These changes have caused insecurity to some and a deep sense of xenophobia to other Greeks.

The question is, what are Greeks so afraid of? Especially when some of us have worked (and still do so) abroad and even more have at least one relative that was an immigrant to other countries.

Why immigrants intimidate Greeks:

Greeks are suckers for conspiracies. And most of these conspiracy theories involve carving away a piece of Greece by one or more of our neighboring countries. So when it comes to the following nationalities, Greeks can be very prejudiced for the following reasons:

1. Albanians teach the idea of a \"Great Albania\" in their public schools, which involves extending the country\'s borders all the way down to Preveza.
2. The tiny country of FYROM, which emerged after the break-down of Yugoslavia, has been trying to create national pride in its youth by telling them that they are descendants of Alexander the Great and by claiming Macedonia and its history as their own.
3. Turkey wants to extend its jurisdiction into the Aegean by claiming small uninhabited islands gradually, while also supposedly eyeing up Thrace with its small Muslim minority. Of course the 400 year occupation by the Ottoman Empire doesn\'t help either.

Another important factor in spreading fear and uncertainty is the media. The crime rate in Greece is generally one of the lowest in Europe (if not the lowest), therefore everytime there is a serious crime, it is reported extensively in the news. When crimes are committed by immigrants, there is more emphasis placed on the news item,creating the impression that immigrants are responsible for the rise in crime the last few years. Whether or not that is true, I don\'t know, but I wouldn\'t be surprised considering the marginalization that most immigrants experience once they enter the country.

There is widespread belief that immigrants are taking our jobs by asking for lower pay and sending all of their earnings back to their mother countries, instead of keeping them in Greece where they can be taxed. In reality, immigrants only seem to be taking the jobs that Greeks don\'t want anymore and they can send their money back \"home,\" because most of them are working illegally and getting paid under the table by their Greek employers. So, whose fault is it?

Are Greeks racists?

Aside from the far-right consevative Greek, who proudly exhibits his racist feelings, the average Greek will say that he/she is not racist. Yet, the use of the following stereotypes soars:

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