In the assessments of the two hundred years since the Revolution of 1821, the achievements of modern Greece in the field of governance and institutions are systematically undervalued. On the contrary, clientelistic relationships, civil conflicts, and the deviations of a path that, nevertheless, was comparatively much more upward than that of our neighbors and many other European countries are overly emphasized.

To whom is this positive assessment ultimately attributed? Without overlooking the dark aspects of this journey, the distinct contribution of four political leaders of modern history emerges: Alexandros Mavrokordatos, Charilaos Trikoupis, Eleftherios Venizelos, and Konstantinos Karamanlis. Each, with different backgrounds, was able to overcome incredible difficulties and leave their mark on the governance and its functioning.

Because they all had the intelligence to place Greece within its international context and to see beyond their time. They were the "architects" of the governance. Mavrokordatos, therefore, Trikoupis, Venizelos, Karamanlis.

Besides their universally acknowledged cleverness, political acuity, and pragmatism, they shared something else in common: the belief that the Constitution "matters." That is, it is not a pretext to beautify power relations, but something more: it is a set of rules and principles aimed at limiting power. Therefore, to the extent that it is upheld, the Constitution transforms power into authority. At the same time, it delineates legality and through it legitimizes power.

Excerpt from the book