Skip to main content

Keeping a Low Profile: Greek Strategic Culture and International Military Operations

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
European Participation in International Operations

Part of the book series: New Security Challenges ((NSECH))

  • 521 Accesses

Abstract

The fourth chapter examines Greek strategic culture and decisions to participate in all four of the operations discussed in the book. The analysis clearly shows that Greek strategic culture builds on the perception that territorial defence must be given primacy and that the will to participate in international military operations is low among the public as well as in government. However, out of the need to display solidarity with NATO and EU allies, Greece has nonetheless participated in a facilitatory capacity in all four operations studied. The Greek decision-making process is closely associated with the office of the prime minister and no important role is played by parliament or senior commanders of the armed forces.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Antonakopoulos, Georgios. 2004. Shaping the 21st Century Hellenic Armed Forces: Interview with General Georgios Antonakopoulos, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. Military Technology, 1 October, pp. 64–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Athens News Agency. 2003. Greece won’t send troops if war declared on Iraq. 19 January, cited in Hartwig Hummel. (2007) A Survey of Involvement of 15 European States in the Iraq War 2003, paks working paper 7, revised version, pp. 19–21, at 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coloumbis, Theodoros. 1999. Strategic Consensus in Greek Domestic and Foreign Policy Since 1974. In Greece and the New Balkans: Challenges and Opportunities, eds. Van Coufoudakis, Harry J. Psomiades, and Theodore Couloumbis, 407–422. Athens: Pella Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey, Judy. 2013. Military in Greece Is Spared Cuts. New York Times, 7 January. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/world/europe/08iht-letter08.html?_r=1. Accessed 26 Oct 2015.

  • Dieterich, Sandra, Hartwig Hummel and Marshall, Stefan. 2008. Strengthening Parliamentary “War Powers” in Europe: Lessons from 25 National Parliaments. Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, Policy Paper 27, 2008, https://www.phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Institute/Sozialwissenschaften/Hummel_PAKS_2008.pdf. Accessed 26 Oct 2015.

  • Dokos, ELIAMEP, Athens, October 2014, email October 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dokos, Thanos, and Panayiotis Tsakonas. 2005. National Security Strategy: Building the Greek Model in the 21st Century. Athens: Papazisis Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dokos, Thanos, and Kollias, Christos. 2013. Greek Defence Spending In Times Of Crisis: The Urgent Need for Defence Reform, ELIAMEP Thesis, March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Economides, Spyros. 2013. Greece. In Strategic Cultures in Europe. Security and Defence Policies Across the Continent, eds. Heiko Biehl, Bastian Giegerish and Alexandra Jonas, 153–164. Potsdam, Germany: Springer VS.

    Google Scholar 

  • EUNavfor Somalia. 2014. EU Naval Force Bids Farewell to Hellenic Frigate HS Psara. http://eunavfor.eu/eu-naval-force-bids-farewell-to-hellenic-frigate-hs-psara/. Accessed 26 Oct 2015.

  • Gkikas, Vasilis. 2003. Definition and Implementation of Greek Foreign Policy: the Institutional Dimension. In Contemporary Greek Foreign Policy: An Aggregate Perspective, vol A, ed. Panayiotis Tsakonas. Athens: Sideris Publishers [Γκίκας, Βασίλης 2003. Καθορισμός και Εφαρμογή της Ελληνικής Εξωτερικής Πολιτικής: η Θεσμική Διάσταση στο Τσάκωνας (εκδ.) Σύγχρονη Ελληνική Εξωτερική Πολιτική: Μια συνολική προσέγγιση, Τόμος Ά, εκδόσεις Ι. Σιδέρης, Αθήνα, 2003.].

    Google Scholar 

  • Greek Constitution. 1975, amended 1986, 2001 and 2008. Adopted by the fifth revisionary parliament, http://www.hri.org/docs/syntagma/

  • Greek parliament. 2003a. Plenary session 13/02/2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2003b. Plenary session 27/03/2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007. Plenary session XLVI, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2009. Plenary session: 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellenic National Defence General Staff. 2010. Operation EU NAVFOR ATALANTA, Public Affairs Office, September. [online] Available at: http://www.geetha.mil.gr/media/pdf-arxeia/operatalanta/atalanta_gr.pdf. Accessed 26 Oct 2015. [Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας-Τμήμα Ενημέρωσης Τύπου Σεπτέμβριος 2010. Επιχείρηση EU NAVFOR ATALANTA].

  • Hellenic Army General Staff. 2014. Peace Support Operations. Somalia. [online] Available at: http://www.army.gr/default.php?pname=Somalia&la=1. Accessed 26 Oct 2015. [Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού (2014). Επιχειρήσεις Υποστήριξης Ειρήνης. Σομαλία.]

  • Hellenic National Defence General Staff. 2014a. Peace Support Activities. [online] Available at: http://www.geetha.mil.gr/en/peace-support-activities.html. Accessed26 Oct 2015. [Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνκής Άμυνας. (2014) Ειρηνευτικές Δραστηριότητες. ]

  • ———. 2014b. Ongoing activities: Table of Hellenic Participation in Peace Support Operations. [online] Available at: http://www.geetha.mil.gr/en/2015-01-15-12-57-43/2015-01-20-10-52-20.html. Accessed 26 Oct 2015.

  • ———. 2014c. Ongoing activities: Hellenic contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. [online] Available at: http://www.geetha.mil.gr/en/2015-01-15-12-57-43/2015-01-15-12-58-47/afghanistan-isaf.html. Accessed 26 October 2015.

  • ———. 2014d. Operation EU “ATALANTA”. [online] Available at: http://www.geetha.mil.gr/en/2015-01-15-12-57-43/2015-01-15-12-58-47/eu-operation-atalanta.html. Accessed 26 Oct 2015.

  • Ioakimidis, Panayiotis C. 2003. The foreign policy design model in Greece: personalities versus institutions. In Contemporary Greek Foreign Policy: An Aggregate Perspective, vol A, ed. P. Tsakonas. Athens: Sideris Publisher 2003. [Ιωακειμίδης, Παναγιώτης Κ. 2003. Το μοντέλο σχεδιασμού εξωτερικής πολιτικής στην Ελλάδα: πρόσωπα έναντι θεσμών στο Τσάκωνας (εκδ.) Σύγχρονη Ελληνική Εξωτερική Πολιτική: Μια συνολική προσέγγιση, Τόμος Ά, εκδόσεις Ι. Σιδέρης, Αθήνα, 2003.].

    Google Scholar 

  • KAPA research. 2011 March. Public opinion survey on developments in Libya. [online] Available at: http://www.tovima.gr/files/1/2011/rootfiles/KAPA.pdf. Accessed 29 Oct 2014. [KAPA research (Μάρτιος 2011). Έρευνα κοινής γνώμης για τις εξελίξεις στη Λιβύη.]

  • Law 3132/2003. National Council of Foreign Policy. Official Government Gazette, No. 84, 11 April 2003. [Νόμος 3132/2003. Εθνικό Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικής Πολιτικής. Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Νο. 84, 11 Απριλίου 2003.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministerial Council Act 31/26.05. 2000. Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA). Official Government Gazette, No. 134, 30 May 2000. [Πράξεις Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου. Κυβερνητικό Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών και Άμυνας (ΚΥΣΕΑ). Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Νο. 134, 30 Μαΐου 2000.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of National Defence. 2009a. Press conference of the Minister of Defence Mr. E. Venizelos and the Vice-Minister of Defence Mr. P. Mpeglitis. [online] Available at: http://www.mod.mil.gr/mod/el/content/show/132/2644. Accessed 04 Nov 2014]. [Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (2009). Συνέντευξη Τύπου ΥΕΘΑ. Ευ. Βενιζέλου και ΑΝΥΕΘΑ. Π. Μπεγλίτη.]

  • ———. 2009b. Press conference of the Minister of National Defence Mr. Evang. Venizelos in Brussels. [online] Available at: http://www.mod.mil.gr/mod/el/content/show/132/176. Accessed 28 Nov 2014. [Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (2009). Συνέντευξη Τύπου ΥΕΘΑ κ. Ευ. Βενιζέλου στις Βρυξέλλες.]

  • ———. 2011. Press conference of the Political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence on Libya and other affairs of the Ministry. [online] Available at: http://www.mod.mil.gr/mod/el/content/show/132/3908. Accessed 29 Oct 2014. [Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (2011). Συνέντευξη Τύπου πολιτικής ηγεσίας ΥΠΕΘΑ για τη Λιβύη και θέματα του Υπουργείου.]

  • ———. 2014a. Defence Strategy. [online] Available at: http://www.mod.mil.gr/mod/en/content/show/90/678. Accessed 18 Oct 2014.

  • ———. 2014b. Departmental Organisation. [online] Available at: http://www.mod.mil.gr/mod/en/content/show/0/588. Accessed 17 Oct 2014.

  • Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs. 26/03/2003. [Ενημέρωση της Επιτροπής Άμυνας και Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων 26/03/2003.]

    Google Scholar 

  • Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs. 31/03/2011. Speech of the Minister of Defence. [Ενημέρωση της Επιτροπής Άμυνας και Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων για τις εξελίξεις στη Μεσόγειο (31/03/2011).]

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuters. 2015. Greek Government Denies Planning to Cut Defence Spending. Athens, 1 July. [online] Available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/eurozone-greece-defense-idUSA8N0ZC00U20150701. Accessed 23 Feb 2015.

  • SIPRI Yearbook 2013. 2013. Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Stockholm: SIPRI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skouras, M. 2009. Greece and Peace Operations. Reflections, Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies, vol. 53, July–August. [Σκούρας, Μ (2009). Ελλάδα και ειρηνευτικές επιχειρήσεις. Προβληματισμοί, Ελληνικό Ινστιτούτο Στρατηγικών Μελετών, τεύχος 53, Ιούλιος-Αύγουστος 2009.]

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Central Command/Greece. 2014. Support to OIF. [online] Available at: http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom-en/coalition-countries-en/greece-en. Accessed 22 Oct 2014.

Interviews

  • Bellou. Advisor/University of Macedonia, Athens, October 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daskalakis. Hellenic Army General Staff, retired, Athens, October 2014/Via questionnaire.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gartzanikas. Hellenic Army General Staff, retired, Athens, October 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gkinis. Hellenic Army General Staff, retired, Athens, October 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalmpantis. Hellenic Army General Staff, retired, Athens, October 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Basaras. 2014. Hellenic Air General Staff, retired, Via questionnaire.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stergiou. 2014. Hellenic Army General Staff, retired, Via questionnaire.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lelas. 2014 Hellenic Air General Staff, retired, Via questionnaire.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous official 1. Hellenic Army General Staff, Athens, December 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous official 2. Hellenic Army General Staff, Athens, December 2014.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Boskou, S., Engelbrekt, K. (2016). Keeping a Low Profile: Greek Strategic Culture and International Military Operations. In: Britz, M. (eds) European Participation in International Operations . New Security Challenges. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39759-7_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics