ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the process of development rights allocation in Greece and the changes to that process which occurred from 2009 onward. It argues that the interaction of institutions which regulate the allocation of development rights, with social practices of formal and informal land development, gives rise to development pathways which demonstrate institutional persistence. In the case of Greece, these pathways range from ‘urban development by state organisations’, to development without planning permission on land that is not owned by the developer. The crisis was a shock to the Greek governance system, yet the analysis in this paper shows that the reforms of the development rights allocation process followed the pre-existing ‘mentality of rule’. The paper therefore argues that development pathways reflect a political arrangement between the ruling elites and other social strata. The technologies of governance and the associated institutions and practices which support elite rule, were sustained, if not reinforced, during the crisis. This analytical approach therefore offers insights of relevance to other countries in Europe and around the world which contemplate reforms to their development rights allocation system.
Acknowledgments
We would like to sincerely thank Prof. Athina Yiannakou for the detailed, insightful and very helpful comments she offered on a previous version of this paper. We are also grateful to the two anonymous referees for their constructive and encouraging feedback. Any errors are, ofcourse, our own.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
ORCID
Nikos Karadimitriou http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1833-5047