Young adults, subjectivity, and desire of the Other in the context of the Greek economic crisis

The Greek financial crisis of 2009 has shifted traditional family dynamics and may have impacted on subjectivity, especially in young adults. The research question of this study is: "How do young Greek adults articulate their subjectivity in relation to the desire of the (m)Other in the aftermath of the Greek economic crisis?” Unstructured interviews were used to explore experiences of 20 participants aged between 25 and 35 years old relating to growing up in Greek families in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Attention was also paid to how they respond to the impact of the crisis, and the extent to which their future expectations about family and society have changed. The Free Association Narrative Interview (FANI) method was used, which starts from one very broad question that gives free rein to narrative. In the second, more interactive part of the interview, open questions were asked to invite participants to develop specific stories, feelings, and ideas. The results point towards a strong identification with the (m)Other, and with specific socio-political discourses and ideologies about the family and the Greek nation. Strong discourses and phantasies about family have been present in Greece traditionally, but the financial crisis seems to have exacerbated the possibility for young adults to move towards separation and individuation from the (m)Other. Social change may emerge through a shift in both the symbolic and the libidinal character of identifications, in terms of affect and jouissance. Otherwise, the repetition of social acts will continue to reproduce structures of subordination and obedience.