The purpose of this book is to outline the context of developments in Greek politics from the end of the Civil War in September 1949 to the Metapolitefsi in July 1974.

Three fundamental themes run through this twenty-five year period: First, the functioning of democratic institutions. An authoritarian political culture, a legacy of the Civil War, increased influence of the crown and the military, the impact of the Cold War, disagreement over the rules of the game, and the inability to form strong homogeneous parties contributed to the deterioration and dissolution of parliamentarism.

Second, the Cold War. Greece is integrated into the bipolar international system. Following this, the Cyprus issue. At the same time, the possibility of participating in European integration is explored.

Finally, the process of economic development. From the early 1960s, Greece faces not only the problem of poverty but also the management of growth expectations. This issue is intertwined with political-constitutional matters rooted in the past and collectively constitute the issue of adapting the political system to a new, completely different environment from that in which the post-Civil War political settlement was formed.

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