![Cover for: Greece: The history behind the collapse](https://www.eurozine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/a77cc4dd211e6db10eea4ddf21568ca8.jpg)
Historically positioning themselves between an unruly, oriental population and the western powers, since 1981 Greek elites have siphoned off EU funds into a bloated public sector favouring corruption, patronage and social climbing. The threat posed to Europe by the breakdown is less contagion to the centre than a wave of anti-western feeling that could exacerbate geopolitical instabilities in the region.