A Proxy Civil War and the Forging of Nationalist Party Politics

Abstract

This chapter examines the way in which the Left and Right became extremely polarised in the late 1940s and early 1950s—so divided that Cyprus was practically on the brink of civil war. I also analyse how this polarisation impacted nationalist party politics, especially in terms of how anti-communism and nationalism were used by the nationalist Right and the Cypriot Church to influence certain critical events, such as the Constitutional Assembly in 1947–1948, municipal and ecclesiastical elections, and the trade union movement. Most important to analyse in this regard is the Church of Cyprus, as it had a strong unifying influence and leadership role in the nationalist milieu. I conclude with an overview and an evaluation of conditions that drove the nationalist Right to radicalise its struggle against the British through an armed guerrilla movement—the clandestine organisation, EOKA.