Monarchy in Modern Greece

For perhaps the first time, the author has attempted a holistic account of the monarchy in modern Greece. The reader, on the basis of information about the political behaviour of the Greek and his relationship with authority in every form, is able to understand why this specific type of constitution was chosen. The progress of the monarchy is explored in parallel with the quest for popular legitimization and the constitutional dimension of the question, including the contradictions in the constitutional legislation and the fragility of a democratic constitutional monarchy. Three figures of the Dynasty are discussed and, in the cases of Constantine the First and Frederika, an attempt is made to separate myth from reality. The philanthropic attitude of members of the two dynasties is discussed together with the deep-rooted socio-political dimension of the monarchy. Finally, the author examines the causes of the unravelling of the strong, but uneasy bond between people and monarchy.