Overview

At the apex of international Cold War tension, an alliance of Greek military leaders seized power in Athens. Seven years of violent political repression followed in Greece, yet as Cold War allies, the Greek colonels had continued international support- especially from Britain. Why did successive governments, those of Harold Wilson and Edward Heath, choose to pursue an alliance with these military dictators? Alexandros Nafpliotis' book examines British foreign policy towards Greece, exposing a guiding principle of pragmatism above all else. This is the first systematic study of Britain and the Greek military Junta of the early 1970s to be based on newly released National Archive documents, US and Greek sources and personal interviews with leading actors. Comparing and contrasting the attitudes of both Labour and Conservative governments towards the Junta in Greece, Nafpliotis outlines a great degree of continuity, as well as showing where and how moral and public relations issues were overcome in order to facilitate a close relationship with the colonels. 'Britain and the Greek Colonels' is a comprehensive history of international diplomacy and realpolitik in the Cold War period and will be essential reading for students and scholars of Cold War history, the history of modern Greece and International Relations.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dr Alexandros Nafpliotis (Independent Scholar, Greece)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Weight:   0.367kg
ISBN:  

9781350161047

ISBN 10:   1350161047
Pages:   320
Publication Date:   30 April 2020
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1: The Labour government's policy towards the Colonels, 1967-68: Setting the tone The first traces 1967: A coup, a war and a conference Trouble in Cyprus Royal blues 1968: 'Business as usual' International dimension Chapter 2: The Labour government's policy towards the Colonels, 1969-70: a 'new era of relations' 1969: Council of Europe vs. NATO The Kotronis case 1970: 'The pendulum is swinging too wide for comfort' A note on Cyprus Chapter 3: The Conservative government's policy towards the Colonels, 1970: continuity vs. change 'Painful dilemmas' A Mediterranean 'powder keg' Troubled waters 'As much business as possible' Chapter 4: The Conservative government's policy towards the Colonels, 1971: messages, meetings and visits Extremists and 'policy of scold' The bridge Papadopoulos' doubts reappear The quest for a new spirit in relations Chapter 5: The Conservative government's policy towards the Colonels, 1972: towards a new direction? An inconclusive year Beware of Greeks bearing gifts Pragmatism prevails Chapter 6: The Conservative government's policy towards the Colonels, 1973: overtaken by events 'Europeanisation' of Anglo-Greek relations The three epochs of relations Recognition unbound The 'referendum' Chapter 7: The Conservatives, the experiment that failed, and the hardliners coup, September-December 1973 To encourage or not to encourage The 'invisible dictator' and the 'Greek Calends' The effects of anti-Americanism Chapter 8: Conservatives, Labour and the junta, 1974: the endgame Taking the heat The US card 'A proper working relationship' Diplomacy over the Aegean Cyprus Endgame Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index

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Author Information

Dr Alexandros Nafpliotis is a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was awarded his PhD in International History.

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