Normalization of Precarity after the Financial Crisis in Greece and Spain

The contribution explores the distinctive form of precarity that emerged in Southern European countries Greece and Spain, in the aftermath of 2007/08 financial crisis. Over the past decade, these two semi-peripheral states implemented extensive labour reforms, that significantly contributed to the widespread rise of precarious working and living conditions. It is argued that the precarity has taken on a contradictory form, becoming „normalized“ in the subjective perceptions of individuals regarding both present and future expectations. The normalization occurs as working and living conditions deviate from established normative standards but are nevertheless accepted as the limits of what is realistically achievable within these societies. The adaption to these limitations, particularly through lowering of expectations, emerges as the key mechanism by which precarious workers internalize and accept their precarious status. The analysis is based on qualitative interviews with young professionals without pre-crisis working experience. The findings, especially the divergence between normative and realistically achievable standards, are discussed in the conclusion, in the context of different conceptualizations of precarity in the North and South.