Greece has been in the midst of continued civil unrest since early December, following the fatal shooting by police of a teenager in the Exarcheia district of Athens. Spontaneous demonstrations erupted all over Greece in response to the tragic incident and have since developed into a mass anti-government movement dominated by student activists.

Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15 year old student, was shot by a policeman shortly after 9pm on December 6th. Initially the officer, Epaminondas Korkoneas, claimed that Grigoropoulos was killed by the ricochet from a warning shot, although forensic tests later suggested that a direct hit killed the teenager. It is believed that the incident occurred during an altercation between police and a small group of youths. Korkoneas has since been charged with "intentional homicide".

Within days almost instantaneous mass demonstrations had occurred in response to the shooting in more than 25 cities across Greece. In Athens the demonstrations descended into widespread rioting. Banks and corporate buildings were the main target of attacks. The police responded to the civil unrest using tear gas and water cannons, whilst some rioters threw molotov cocktails and other debris.

By the second week of the unrest, more than 600 schools and 150 university faculties were occupied by student protesters, and under Greek law the police are restricted from entering university property. No single organisation is coordinating the protests; demonstrations are largely spontaneous and involve numerous groups and political affiliations.

Mass demonstrations have been practically a daily occurrence since the shooting. Although the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos triggered the protests, it is clear that the continuing instability is a reaction to deep-rooted political and economic problems.

Distrust of the police is a symptom of widespread anti-authoritarianism in Greek society. Following the Nazi occupation of Greece during the Second World War, the country was devastated by a civil war between Royalists and Communists until 1949. During the Cold War, a US-backed military dictatorship seized power and ruled between 1967-1974. Despite rapid economic growth and the establishment of democratic institutions in 1975, many Greeks still view the police with suspicion because of their historic connection to oppressive governments.

University students have been at the centre of these latest anti-government demonstrations. Some commentators have noted the historic role of student politics: In 1974, for instance, student activism had contributed significantly to the collapse of the right-wing dictatorship. Protest occupies a vital role in Greek youth culture; altercations with police are often seen as a rite-of-passage.

Following the government’s attempted reform of the education system in 2006, Greece has witnessed a resurgence of student activism. Students have also been disproportionately affected by the global financial crisis. Graduate unemployment is currently at 21%, compared with 8% for the wider workforce. Those that can find work are often angered by low wages, which are increasingly devalued as a result of rising prices.

Greece has been severely affected by the global financial crisis. Fiscal maneuverability is restricted due to Greece’s national debt – the highest of any EU member state. Many anti-government protesters are angered by a €28 billion bail-out of the banking sector, whilst public services are consistently under-funded.

Greek politics is also highly polarised. Anarchists, Communists and Socialists have been involved in the demonstrations and have asked the right-wing government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to call a general election. Karamanlis’ New Democracy Party has received criticism recently due to a number of corruption scandals involving public money and the government’s unpopular handling of the economic crisis.

Karamanlis’ position appears increasingly vulnerable. His New Democracy Party holds just a one-seat majority in the 300-seat Parliament. For the first time in nine years the main oppositional party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), is ahead in opinion polls.

On 8 January, Karamanlis announced a massive cabinet overhaul in response to the civil unrest – nine out of sixteen cabinet members have been replaced. Karamanlis has been criticised for not replacing Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Pavlopoulos – the minister responsible for Greece’s police forces – had tendered his resignation in December but the Prime Minister declined his offer.

The situation in Greece took a further unexpected turn on 5th January when a police van in Athens was attacked by an armed gang, resulting in the hospitalization of a police officer. A radical left-wing group, Revolutionary Struggle, has since claimed responsibility for the incident. Some Greeks are concerned at the possibility of increased extremism as a result of the political instability.

The outcome of Greece’s civil unrest is yet to be determined. What remains clear is that the mass demonstrations are likely to continue until the country’s social, economic and political problems are addressed.