Developing infrastructure as a learning process in Greece

Abstract:

Drawing on the comparative analysis of the implementation of structural policy, broadly conceived to include both the EU Structural Funds, namely the CSFs I, II and III, and the EU Cohesion Fund projects, the article focuses on the development of infrastructure, with emphasis on transport infrastructure, in Greece since the mid-1990s, as an outcome of policy learning, closely linked to the Europeanisation and modernisation processes. The underlying assumption is that the development of infrastructure, involving the shift in the goals of development policy between the first (1989-93), the second (1994-99) and the third (2000-06) CSFs from small-scale to major infrastructure projects in areas where the country was lagging behind, has primarily been the outcome of 'learning from past successes and failures' and 'learning from abroad' processes. These processes, however, were characterised by single loop rather than social learning features. This is attributed to the weaknesses of the domestic institutional infrastructure, and particularly to the lack of social capital and cooperative culture. Moreover, this seems to be a key variable differentiating Greece from other comparable Cohesion countries, notably Ireland and Portugal.