Explaining Greece by To Vima unpacks the complexities of modern Greece, one story at a time. In every episode, journalists and experts shed light on the country’s most pressing issues, offering deep insight and fresh perspectives. Hosted by Charis Tzanis.
The “sirens of war” again erupted in the Middle East on the last day of February, last month, with the coordinated and large-scale US and Israeli strikes against Iran, followed by the latter’s retaliation across the wider region. The repercussions of the latest Mideast war, beyond the actual death and destruction in the immediate area, were immediately felt around the world, i.e. financial markets and energy prices.
In this week’s episode of “Explaining Greece”, we again speak with Maria Gavouneli, a professor of International Law at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and a board member of the Athens-based Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), in an attempt to understand how Greek leadership is dealing with the crisis and how the war affects the country.
Standing on the western edge of the now expanded conflict, given its proximity via the eastern Mediterranean with Israel, along with Lebanon and the large island republic of Cyprus, NATO and EU member Greece is closely scrutinizing developments and taking initiatives within its framework of its interests, agreements and alliances. For instance, two Greek warships and four fighter planes were dispatched to Cyprus, namely, to the internationally recognized part of the island, as one-third of the island remains under Turkish occupation – another variable in the “calculus” of geopolitical realities in the region.
Greece and the Greek Cypriot majority on the island share close fraternal ties.
The deployment followed foiled attacks by drones or missiles, ostensibly by forces backing Iran, against a British airbase on the divided island.
Shipping is also a high priority for Athens, as Greek-owned vessels and companies comprise one of the biggest blocs in the world’s ocean-going fleet, especially the now vulnerable tankers trying to navigate the Strait of Hormuz and other “chokepoints” in the region.
27 Feb 2026
Quo Vadis Greece - A 21st Demographic Crisis
It figures as the most pressing problem facing Greek society today, literally a “double whammy” of a shrinking population intertwined with an increasingly aging one.
The demographic crisis – according to others more of a looming catastrophe - threatening 21st Greece isn’t unique, however. Similar ominous population trends plague other western and advanced societies.
In this edition of “Explaining Greece”, demography expert Alexandra Tragaki breaks down the numbers of births and deaths in the country; trends since the end of WWII; emigration and migration, and some of the reasons behind this development are discussed. Solutions are requested, yet difficult to define.
Tragaki, a noted professor of economic demography at the Harokopio University in Athens, also warns that any implemented policies to overturn demographic decline won’t be immediately felt, even if successful, given the complexities involved with women and couples in the West having less and less babies.
6 Feb 2026
Greece and Israel: A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
One of the most prominent strategic realignments in the east Mediterranean over recent years has been the burgeoning cooperation between Greece and Israel, which both Jerusalem and Athens now call “strategic” in nature.
In this edition of “Explaining Greece”, veteran Corinth-based journalist, correspondent and communications specialist Jean Cohen, details how once chilly official relations have evolved into a solid partnership in various areas, including defense cooperation.
People-to-people exchanges, mainly through tourism and very heightened interest by Israelis in purchasing homes in Greece, and even residing in the southeast European country, are broached.
On the wider political front, Cohen offers his candid views over the backlash faced by the IDF and Israeli leadership after Oct. 7 in their quest to eradicate Hamas from Gaza, referring reactions in Greece, which echoed, to a smaller extent, protests other western countries.
Cohen also disuses the state of the venerable Jewish communities of Greece, including the ancient legacy of the Romaniote Jews and the once unrivaled Sephardic Jewish community of Thessaloniki – which was decimated during the Holocaust.
Who has been a guest on Explaining Greece
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Brady Kiesling
Celia Bakostergiou
Triantafyllos Karatrantos
Dionysis Savvopoulos
Alkmini Fotiadou
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,825
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
75
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
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