Why multiculturalism remains a fictional concept in Greece

·       language which also reflects centuries of cultural exchange through words relating to daily life, food, clothing, household items, commerce, and the bureaucracy.

Sixth, since 1991 Greek governments have promoted English as a compulsory foreign language in Greek public schools starting from the primary school level (typically around 3rd or 4th grade in primary school and continuing through secondary school) because Greece recognises that English is the primary international language for diplomacy, business, science, higher education, tourism and career opportunities,

English is also the dominant language (ahead of French and Spanish) in what is known as Greece’s shadow education where the vast majority of students (primary and secondary) go to private, small schools and tutors after school hours to enhance their learning of various subjects.

But what of Greece’s future approach to cultural diversity, at a time of immense economic difficulties despite its ongoing recognition as a developed, high-income country with a high Human Development Index (ranking 34th globally).

At one level, Greeks express opposition to high levels of immigration at a time when 80-82 per cent of Greeks cannot save money, 36 per cent run out of cash before the end of the month, 46 per cent earn just enough to cover basic expenses, and 70 per cent of active bank accounts hold less than €1,000.

At the same time, Greece needs workers to meet its economic needs because of a rapidly ageing and declining population, yet many doctors, engineers, and tech workers are amongst the 773,000 Greek citizens who left between 2010 and 2024 to find more favourable economic opportunities with only 473,000 returning during that period.

In reality, Greece remains near the bottom in international indexes for attracting global talent despite recent measures, is yet to develop a native high-tech manufacturing base, and lags well behind the wider European Union average in terms of private research and development spending (0.9 per cent of GDP compared to EU average of 1.5 percent).

And while Greece's current migrant intake is dominated by lower- and medium-skilled work in tourism, agriculture, and construction, public opinion consistently views the large influx of Muslim migrants as a threat to Greece’s traditions, security, and values.

Most recently, Greek policy seeks more workers from Christian or religiously neutral nations - such as the Philippines, Georgia, Armenia, and India - while also restricting naturalisation pathways which includes deals with Egypt and Bangladesh to secure economic labour without offering long-term settlement or citizenship path options.

Greece has also targeted unauthorised migration and religious infrastructure which includes closing dozens of unregistered, unofficial mosques and prayer spaces in Athens.

While Greek governments still appoint Islamic leaders (muftis) to act as religious judges in Western Thrace to resolve local family, custody, and inheritance disputes under Sharia law, Greek law since 2018 ensures that Muslim citizens can bypass Sharia courts entirely and take family disputes directly to standard Greek civil courts.

The Greek courts, in line with majority public opinion, also insists that all animals be stunned or anesthetised before slaughter, which conflicts with traditional shechita (kosher) and halal requirements that the animal must be conscious and uninjured at the moment of death.

In the end, the Greek national experience is a reminder that many nations do not adhere to multiculturalism and will only accept a minority’s behaviour when it is perceived not to challenge the majority's values or threaten national unity, whether you agree with the policies or not.