Exceptional measures: Greece’s COVID-19 governance and the state of exception in liberal democracy

Abstract

This thesis critically examines Greece’s pandemic governance through Giorgio Agamben’s theory of the state of exception, arguing that the COVID-19 crisis accelerated pre-existing tendencies toward executive centralisation, legal formalism and democratic erosion. It analyses emergency measures such as protest bans, movement permits and vaccine mandates, highlighting how these interventions redefined the relationship between law, politics, and life. While Agamben’s insights show the biopolitical logic underlying such governance, the thesis also underscores the limitations of his framework, particularly its lack of attention to social differentiation and institutional agency. Drawing on legal analysis and political theory, the study contextualises the Greek response within broader democratic backsliding and offers recommendations for safeguarding constitutional integrity during crises, including enhanced judicial scrutiny, transparent expert oversight and also embedded sunset clauses.