Over the past five decades, Greece has undergone a significant transformation in its perceptions of the United States—shifting from a period marked by widespread anti-American sentiment to one increasingly characterized by Americanophilia. However, this evolution has been neither linear nor uniform, with notable fluctuations and divergences across different segments of society.
This paper investigates how attitudes, emotions, and perceptions toward the U.S. have developed and changed within Greek political elites, the press, and public opinion. It situates these changes within the broader historical and geopolitical context, paying particular attention to the role of collective memory, critical national and international turning points, episodes of crisis, and shifts in both foreign and domestic policy.
By analyzing the complex interplay between sentiment and strategy in Greek-American relations, this study seeks to offer a deeper understanding of how a small country with a layered and often traumatic historical experience interprets and redefines its relationship with a global superpower. In doing so, it contributes to broader debates on national identity, foreign policy attitudes, and the enduring impact of history on national and international perceptions.