The thesis examines the operations of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in Greece in the' immediate post-war era, 1944-47; By relying on UNRRA's rich and mostly unexplored archive, it constitutes the first attempt at examining a genuinely under-researched topic. The main argument is that the triangular nexus of a disintegrated national administration, a malfunctioning international organization and civil-war conditions (both latent and overt) contrived to aid being deliberately used by the state as political leverage, with the UNRRA mission partaking in the violation of its mandate and principles, The establishment, financial configuration and administrative structure of the Administration are considered in Chapter I. Chapter II assesses the impact of the Axis occupation on the Greek economy and society. The first 'two rounds' of external relief assistance, provided by the International Red Cross during the occupation, and the British-headed Military Liaison (ML) in its immediate aftermath, are also discussed. UNRRA's working relationship with the ML and its stance during the civil war in Athens in December 1944 are considered as a precedent for the 'third round' of relief. Chapter III offers an overall account of UNRRA's relief and rehabilitation activities. Chapter IV provides a locus for scrutinizing UNRRA's operations by focusing on the Cyclades islands. It examines the establishment and operation of the welfare system, the provision of food supplies, and the interplay between relief policies and the development of the local economy. Chapters V and VI contextualize the politics of international relief and rehabilitation in the light of the convoluted political, social and economic conditions in Greece of the mid-1940s, and the emerging Cold War.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:618329 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Tsilaga, Flora |
| Publisher | King's College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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