Bullying in plain view

Perhaps the "how" now matters more than the "what." After all, we have all repeatedly watched the video. A fuming Lefteris Avgenakis moves against the airport employee and, with violent, aggressive gestures, snatches the phone from his hands to prove something amid their dispute over the politician's boarding. However, how does a member of the Greek Parliament and former minister, a person of recognized power and purported status, end up behaving like a common thug in plain view? One answer is that he doesn't "end up" there. He is already there. Political culture and the perception of power in Greece are inherently linked with the spirit of abuse, imposition and exhibitionism.

Avgenakis was not driven to some unexpected extreme but was already in a position to resort to extremity as if it were not. Because he believes he is entitled to it, because he knows he can, and...