In 2008, Greece was plunged into recession. A full-blown financial crisis developed in 2009, from which point onwards the Greek economy shrank with persistence unmatched by current comparisons. The onset of financial crisis triggered a major realignment in the configuration of political power in the country, with a collapse in support for the left pillar of a centrist two-party system that had been in place for over 30 years, and the entry to Parliament of an extreme far-right group with a reputation for engaging in physical violence. The political ramifications of the crisis have continued to evolve under the socio-economic pressures of the ongoing recession, the austerity measures adopted to meet the conditions of successive bailouts, and the asymmetrical impact of both upon the country’s citizenry.