A prime example of this phenomenon is Greece's administrative division into regions (περιφέρειες). These regions form the foundation of local government organization and will gradually assume more responsibilities and powers over time. Yet their current structure reveals fundamental design flaws that affect everything from healthcare to sports, from telecommunications to economic development.
Historical Context: From Military Junta to Modern Regions
The Junta's Failed Experiment (1971-1973)
Greece's first attempt at regional division came from an unlikely source: the military junta of 1967-1974. In 1971, the junta created seven "Regional Administrations" (Περιφεριακαί Διοικήσεις) with appointed governors who automatically became deputy ministers in the Council of Ministers. This gave regions significant ministerial-level authority from the start. However, this system was abolished just two years later following Dimitrios Ioannidis's counter-coup in 1973.
The Papandreou Era: Establishing Modern Regions (1986)
The current regional boundaries were established by Andreas Papandreou's second government through Interior Minister Menios Koutsogiorgas. Two key pieces of legislation created the framework:
- Law 1622/1986: "On Regional Development and Democratic Planning"
- Presidential Decree 51/87: Implementing the regional structure
From the beginning, this system had two critical flaws:
- No systematic planning: Regional divisions were created without any coherent design or logic
- Central control: Regional administrators were appointed by the central government, making regions subordinate to Athens
The Lost Opportunity: Kapodistrias and Kallikratis Programs
The Kapodistrias Program
Greece's transition to a new era aimed to modernize and rationalize public administration. The Kapodistrias Program targeted municipal reform and consolidation, but it failed to address regional boundaries systematically.
