There are three main reasons why Konstantinos Karamanlis should be considered a political and historical figure who transcends the usual measure of a distinguished politician: Greece's accession to the European Community, the foundation of the post-junta democratic system, and the economic and social development of the 1950s and 1960s.

There are two criteria by which these three elements should be judged: in themselves and in relation to Karamanlis himself. First, their significance, their weight for Greek society. Secondly, the extent to which these were achieved due to Karamanlis's political action.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]