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Published in: Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik 2/2018

30-04-2018 | Essay

Greek Strategic Culture: Education, Symbols and Experiences

Author: Charalampos Babis Karpouchtsis

Published in: Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik | Issue 2/2018

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Abstract

This essay examines Greek strategic culture – the ability of a security community to wage war. After presenting the existing literature on strategic culture, this paper examines how the Greek doctrine came to be, which experiences have had an impact on Greece’s strategies. It also explains how education and symbols are communicated, and how this communication leads to the formation of a common identity and a security community. In so doing, the study conducts a closer examination of the role of school, rituals and traumatic experiences.

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Footnotes
1
In the decade 1991-2001 Greece’s military spending ranged between 3.5 % und 3.0 % of its GDP (World Bank 2018). Expenditures have been lowered since the economic crisis in 2010, but were not below 2 % of GDP.
 
2
Depending on the source the numbers of military personnel and the armed forces may vary from 120.000 to 175.000. The number of conscripts in the navy is est. 6 %, in the air force 12 %, and in the land force 46 %. In case of a military mobilisation (call to arms) the total number of Greek military is estimated to reach ca. 250.000 as the military in reserve will be activated. The military in reserve are citizens that have served military duty. The number of civilians in duty would be 75 % of the total military force in case of a mobilisation (CIA World Factbook 2015; Ellinikos Stratos 2015a, 2015b, 2015c). Contacting various offices of the Ministry of Defence did not help to clarify information.
 
3
Alternatives to military service (such as civil service) exist, but conscription for such service lasts more than 18 months instead of nine months in the military.
 
4
The Greek education system consists of six years grade school, three years gymnasium and three years lyceum.
 
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Metadata
Title
Greek Strategic Culture: Education, Symbols and Experiences
Author
Charalampos Babis Karpouchtsis
Publication date
30-04-2018
Publisher
Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
Published in
Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1866-2188
Electronic ISSN: 1866-2196
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12399-018-0698-5

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