The field of crisis management in international relations is currently facing a number of essential and important challenges, regarding theoretical, institutional and political dimensions. The research proposal presented in this paper aims at removing any existing limitations by bringing together interdisciplinary points of view. The main purpose of this article, characterized by the analysis of Greek foreign and defense policy and the government's capacities, is to cope with the turbulent (geo)political environment and to analyze the Greek mechanism of crisis management. The main empirical contribution of the study is a detailed reconstruction of Greek decision making and crisis management processes during the acute phase of the Imia crisis of 1996 (between Greece and Turkey). The case study draws upon archival materials, official documents and reports, mass media coverage, previous social science research, and interviews with crisis participants. This study concludes with a discussion of theoretical implications and potential lessons for practice.