Stirring the Greek Nation: Political Culture, Irredentism and Anti-Americanism in Post-War Greece, 1945-1967 / Edition 1

by Ioannis Stefanidis

Overview

This work examines the background to Greek nationalist politics and its effects on public opinion towards international events and territorial claims, from the end of the Second World War to the collapse of constitutional rule in 1967. It explains how intermittent public mobilisation on various foreign policy issues created a political culture that combined elements of nationalism, religion, race and stereotypes about the national Self and the Other. The book challenges widely-held assumptions that Greek irredentism was all but dead and buried in the aftermath of the Asia Minor catastrophe of 1922, and that anti-Americanism was the product of US support for the Colonels' regime of 1967-74 and its condoning of the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus. It begins with an examination of the revival of irredentism in connection with Greek national claims after 1945 and the two campaigns for the union of Cyprus with Greece during the 1950s and 1960s. The second part of the study reveals anti-Americanism to be largely the result of failed post-war Greek territorial ambitions - particularly the frustration of the Enosis claim - rather than the actual intervention of the United States in Greek affairs. Drawing on a huge variety of sources including the Greek press, records of the Greek Parliament, the US and British National Archives, as well the archives of numerous individuals, this book provides a fascinating account of Greek political culture and national self image at a crucial time in the country's political development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780754660590
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/28/2007
Edition description:	1
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ioannis Stefanidis is Assistant Professor in International Studies/Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface; Introduction; Greek foreign policy: the domestic nexus; The post-war irredentist revival; The first Cyprus campaign; The political culture of enosis; The second Cyprus campaign; The Cyprus question and the origins of anti-Americanism; The growth of anti-Americanism; Discontent and the impact of the second Cyprus crisis; (National) pride and prejudice; Surveys; Epilogue; Sources; Index.

Editorial Reviews

’With this new book, Stefanidis has made in important contribution to the study of anti-Americanism in Greece.’ hirledview.typepad.com ’... a stimulating and exemplary work that combines thematic significance, empirical richness, and political engagement.’ The American Historical Review 'This is a revealing monograph and a much-needed contribution to the literature, as far as irredentism and Greek behaviour regarding Cyprus are concerned. It also provides insight on Greek anti-Americanism, which contrary to irredentism is still very much alive in Greece until this very day.' Historein

From the Publisher