‘GUARDIANS OF THE NATION’: PRONATALISM, FERTILITY POLITICS AND THE MULTI-CHILD

FAMILY MOVEMENT IN GREECE

Katerina GeorgiadisESRC Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Social Policy Department, LSEA.Georgiadis1@lse.ac.uk

Picture attributed to rolands.lakis (Flickr: Creative Commons)

‘Civil Society’ “Civil society refers to the arena of uncoerced collective

action around shared interests, purposes and values. In theory, its institutional forms are distinct from those of the state, family and market, though in practice, the boundaries between state, civil society, family and market are often complex, blurred and negotiated. Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms, varying in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Civil societies are often populated by organisations such as registered charities, development non-governmental organisations, community groups, women's organisations, faith-based organisations, professional associations, trades unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy group.” (LSE Centre for Civil Society)

Key Questions

1. How does civil society not only challenge but also produce and reproduce state ideologies & policies?

2. How and why do civil society organisations influence pronatalist initiatives, projects or policies?

3. What are the concerns, motivations & influence of ‘The Supreme Confederation of Multi-Child Parents of Greece’ (ASPE)?

Picture attributed to SMJJP (Flickr: Creative Commons)

Methods

Qualitative study informed by social anthropological theory & methods.

Fieldwork in Athens, Greece (Jan. 2010)

In-depth, semi-structured, interviews with members of ASPE and other multi-child family organisations.

ASPE literature & online content

Print media

Idea for project originates in PhD thesis - ‘Understanding low fertility in Athens and London: a comparative ethnographic study’ (University of London 2006).

The ‘multi-child’ family The ‘multi-child’ are

known as polyteknoi

Pre-1970s definition of multi-child family: one with at least 5 children.

Today’s definition of multi-child family: one with at least 4 children.

Future definition? A movement is under way to re-define multi-child family as one with at least 3 children.The patron saints of the multi-child family:

St Terentios, St Neonilli & their 7 children

‘The Supreme Confederation of Multi-Child Parents of Greece’ (ASPE)

Founded in 1931 to project and promote the interests of families with four or more children.

ASPE key role is to grant multi-child identity.

Benefits include reduced transportation fares, lower household bills, employment quota in private and public sectors, reduced working hours (especially teachers).

Other benefits: 2,000 euro upon birth of 3rd child + 45 euro a month per child + lifetime pension for mother of at least 4 children.

To qualify as multi-child one must be a legal and permanent resident of Greece. Non-EU immigrants do not usually qualify.

111 ASPE Associations representing 185,000 multi-child families.

ASPE & Government Close but not always harmonious relationship.

Government legally and constitutionally bound to protect the polyteknoi (multi-child persons).

Both parties describe support for multi-child families as crucial in light of Greece’s ‘demographic crisis’ & ‘under-fertility’.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that this is true. TFR has declined and remains close to 1.3 children per woman (lowest-low).

So why does support for large families continue?

Hypothesis: The ASPE has succeeded in developing and sustaining the reputation of the polyteknoi as ‘guardians of the nation’ under threat of extinction from the force of demographic change.

The ‘demographic problem’ Severity: “Greece’s demographic problem

has reached nightmarish dimensions … it is a social and national wound” (ASPE President 1984).

Causes: “The demographic problem is complex and multifaceted” (ASPE 2001).

Consequences: “The dangerous absence of children in Greece and galloping under-fertility, assisted by abortions, is beyond alarming. It is leading to the disappearance of our population” (ASPE’s Athens branch President 2007).

Solutions: “The solution to our country’s number 1 problem, the demographic problem, is support for the multi-child family and the creation of new multi-child families” (ASPE President 1990).

‘Blood donors of the Nation’ “Multi-child families are the

pillars of our nation.”

“They are the only reliable guardians of Greek Orthodoxy, the Greek Nation and the Family.”

“The polyteknoi are representatives of values and traditions that must be protected for the good of the nation.”

“The polyteknoi curb the nation’s blood loss by producing and raising many children, and portraying a positive image of the Greek family.”

«Πολύτεκνοι, αιμοδότες του ‘Εθνους»

ASPE Poster

Whose nation is it anyway? Counter-discourses and

opposition to the multi-child family movement.

Sources of opposition: – the media (i.e. public)– other civil society

groups– government

Counter-arguments revolve around the issue of who best symbolises the nation and who can solve its ‘demographic problem’

“If there are no measures to support new families - families which are just forming, irrespective of how many children they have - there is no way that fertility rates will stabilise or increase.” (Kathimerini newspaper 2006)

“I am a university graduate and I am looking for work. Everywhere I look I see extra help being offered to the polyteknoi. I’ve had enough with the polyteknoi. Don’t they get enough benefits? And then we talk about under-fertility! If someone doesn’t have a job, how are they supposed to get married and have a family?” (Reader, Eleftherotypia newspaper 2005).

“The assumption is that benefits for the polyteknoi contribute towards population growth and minimise the effects of the demographic problem. This view is unsubstantiated. I don’t believe that a family plans its size according to the benefits it is entitled for a 3rd or 4th child. There is no study to prove that benefits increase family size.” (Professor at Athens University, To Vima newspaper, 2003)

“The polyteknoi employ the argument that by having many children they are performing a national deed. A national deed is to produce good citizens and this is achieved both by those with many and by those with few children. Moreover, there is no reason to reward us for this because it is one of our basic obligations.” (ibid)

Large family (civil society) organisations across Europe

Final thoughts

Policies are symbolic statements.

“The adoption of population policies … may publicly announce a country’s adherence to the criteria of what constitutes a legitimate, modern, national state. Internally, it may contribute to the state’s legitimacy in the eyes of its own citizens. It may signal the rise of one faction within the state, or the state’s prioritization of certain national projects over others” (Barrett & Tsui 1999).

Further questions: How will Greece’s financial crisis affect its family (population) policy agenda? Will support for the polyteknoi continue during the recession and are plans to give equal benefits to 3-child families likely come to fruition?