Synopses & Reviews
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 the Wilson and Heath governments 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 Junta to be based on newly-released National Archive documents, US and Greek sources and personal interviews with leading actors. Britain and the Greek Colonels is a comprehensive history of international diplomacy and realpolitik in the Cold War period.
About the Author
Alexandros Nafpliotis is part of the IDEAS Balkan International Affairs Research Network at the LSE, where he was awarded his PhD in International History.
Table of Contents
Introduction * 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 * 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 * 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' * 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 * The Conservative government's policy towards the Colonels, 1972: towards a new direction? * An inconclusive year * Beware of Greeks bearing gifts * Pragmatism prevails * 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' * 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 * 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