In 1974, following the collapse of the military dictatorship, Konstantinos Karamanlis returned from political exile to preside over a remarkably smooth transition process leading to the establishment of democratic institutions that proved durable over the next twenty years. Under Karamanlis the deep divisions of the past were gradually bridged, and the effective reintegration of Greek society commenced. Karamanlis's pragmatic approach to the thorny issues of domestic communists, the fate of the monarchy (whose abolition was confirmed in a December 1974 referendum), the recent show of power by Turkey in Cyprus, and punishment for the junta ended decades of mutual recrimination in the Greek political arena while reducing clashes between outside powers competing for influence within Greece.

Data as of December 1994

NOTE: The information regarding Greece on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Greece The Postjunta Transition information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Greece The Postjunta Transition should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.