A Front for ‘Humanity’ Greek and Greek Cypriot Orthodox Advocates Between Anti-colonialism, Self-determination and Enosis (1950–1960)

Abstract

During the 1950s, the Greek Cypriot Archbishop Makarios was the first to associate political claims for the annexation of Cyprus to Greece (Enosis) with the international anti-colonial claims for self-determination. Makarios alleged that British authorities had violated human rights and pressurised the Greek government to back the Cypriot population. As soon as armed conflict broke out in 1955, Greek Orthodox prelates and civil society actors, led by Makarios, launched an international ‘illumination campaign’ to expose the British authorities. This article investigates the Greek-based human rights activism arising from within the Greek and Greek Cypriot Orthodox Church, with the parallel support of right-wing civil society advocates. It therefore aims to shed new light on British decolonisation through the lens of religious humanitarian networks that spread in the Global South, international church forums and international humanitarian organisations. The study contends that these advocates put forward their own irredentist version of a ‘conservative human rights revolution’. Moreover, the article shows how Greek humanitarian and child welfare organisations borrowed nationalist arguments from these activists. Ultimately, ecclesiastical lobbying for human rights impacted the outcome of Cyprus’ decolonisation, inheriting ethno-nationalist arguments against federalisation since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in August 1960.