Intelligence Squared Is Greece Becoming the New Borderland Between East and West? With Sean Matthews
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Jan 19, 2026 
Sean Matthews, a Greek-American journalist and author of The New Byzantines, dives into Greece's evolving geopolitical landscape. He explores how Greece's historical ties to Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire are shaping its future. With rising tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Matthews argues that Greece is pivoting back toward the Near East while maintaining its Western alliances. He also discusses the impact of tourism on Greek identity and highlights the importance of Greece as a cultural and economic connector between regions.
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Greece's Eastward Reorientation
- Greece is shifting from a Western-aligned state back toward its Eastern, Byzantine and Ottoman-linked orientation.
- Sean Matthews argues this reorientation reflects declining Western influence and rising regional powers.
Turkey Shapes Greek Strategy
- The Greece–Turkey rivalry now defines Greek foreign policy and is intensifying as Turkey grows more independent.
- Matthews says declining U.S. intervention makes direct conflict and regional tension likelier.
Greek‑American Cultural Rediscovery
- Matthews recounts returning to Greece as a Greek-American and noticing cultural overlaps with the Middle East.
- He describes shared foods, religious phrases, and customs that reveal deep Eastern links.
