Urbanization of Athens: An Urban Center without Urban Culture?

Abstract

This article examines the rapid urbanization of Athens during the 1950s–1970s (from 1.500.000 to 2.650.000 people) focusing on internal migration from rural Greece, the transfer of rural culture to the capital, and its consequences for the development of urban culture. Particular attention is given to the observation that many migrants did not develop a collective responsibility for the city but rather demanded clientelist services, engaged in unauthorized constructions, and did not internalize the norms of public life. The study argues that despite demographic growth, Athens did not develop a fully structured European urban culture, unlike other cities, but rather an incomplete, hybrid, and unorganized cultural identity