The Constitutional and Legal Status of the Hellenic Armed Forces and Their Interaction with the Hellenic Society

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A620243. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: Hellas was officially declared an independent State in 1828, after a seven-year struggle against the conquerors. Despite the young age, however, she demonstrated a rich, and often turbulent, political life. The followed pattern was not unique by itself: it reflected the parliamentary transformations that swept all over Europe during the last three hundred years. Its uniqueness lies on the rapidity with which these transformations took place, until the finalization of stable republican governance in 1974. What makes this Thesis interesting for the foreign reader is the degree of influence exerted by the armed forces over the political developments. Covertly in the beginning, but with ever increasing determination as the years passed, the armed forces assumed leading role and even dominated the political scene. Inadequately institutionalized civilian control over the army and political immaturity combined to form this behavioral pattern. By the beginning of the last quarter of the century, however, it was realized that Hellas could not claim a reputable position among the community of civilized nations unless by abolishing antiquated institutions. The 1975 Constitution, and the way civilian authorities consolidated control over the armed forces, are textbook examples of a successful transition to a fully developed democratic regime.