The starting point of this thesis is the radicalization of the long-lived Greek- Cypriot movement for termination of the British colonial rule and union - enosis - of Cyprus with Greece, which is identified with the opening of a militant campaign by the armed organisation EOKA (The National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) in April 1955. Consequently, this work takes full account of EOKA's evolution since the embryonic stage of its planning in the early 1950s, until the cessation of its functioning following the end of the rebellion with the signing of the Zurich and London Agreements in February 1959. Crucial to the thesis are the political roots of EOKA in both Athens and Cyprus and the designation of Colonel George Grivas to prepare and lead the physical insurgency in the island. Furthermore, the genesis and character of the armed movement's political desiderata are explored, such as its singularity in comparison to other anti-colonial movements and the reasons behind the eventual acceptance of an independent Cyprus by EOKA's leadership. A key preoccupation of this analysis is EOKA's strategic rationale, focusing upon the organisation's decision to subordinate the military criterion to the political plane, thereby maximising flexibility in its tactics with a continual switching from irregular warfare to political agitation, passive resistance and calculated abstentions from action, while the principal aim remained constant. EOKA's dilemmas in its effort to obtain arms and related equipment are constantly revealed, including the evasion of British anti-smuggling measures. The thesis necessarily explores EOKA's initiatives to solve the problems of supply by turning to various channels of importation from abroad and achieving self-sufficiency by producing its own sophisticated sabotage devices. Over and above such material and practical issues, this research charts the creation and evolution of EOKA's diverse structure, contributing to the gradual transition from a purely static armed organisation into a complex movement able to exploit an increasing popular base and therefore undermine British rule at its weakest point. Finally, in presenting the first fully-researched account of EOKA as an insurgent organisation, explaining its remarkable efficiency and survival, the analysis reconstructs the challenges presented throughout by communications, intelligence and counter-intelligence, and the absolute imperative of the prevention of infiltration of the organisation by hostile elements.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:582011 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Karyos, Andreas |
| Publisher | University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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