Human Rights and Foreign Policy

Wilson and the Greek Dictators, 1967–1970

Bibliographic Data

ID12256550
AuthorsEffie G H Pedaliu (corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume18
Issue1
Pages185-214
Publication date2007-02-22
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiplomacy and Statecraft (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0959-2296 • E-ISSN: 1557-301X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09592290601163118
OpenAlexW2152838310
LanguageEN
Citations received8

The military coup of 21 April 1967 brought to power a repressive dictatorship in Greece. It proceeded to deprive Greeks of their human rights and civil liberties, outraged international public opinion and strained transatlantic relations during the Cold War. The “Greek case” culminated in the withdrawal of Greece from the Council of Europe and calls for its expulsion from NATO. This article will analyse the foreign policy considerations that determined British policy towards the Greek junta during 1967—such as Cold War realities, alliance dynamics, economic and commercial imperatives, regional instability in the Mediterranean and domestic pressures. It will look at how these factors coalesced into shaping British policy towards the Greek junta into one in which human rights had little bearing. The article will also consider the impact of the “Greek case” on the image and credibility of the Labour government of 1966-1970 and explain why vociferous anti-junta activities in London were to create such policy difficulties for the British government. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Ancient history · Civil liberties · Credibility · Democracy · Dictatorship · Economic history · Economics · Economy · Foreign policy · Government (linguistics · Greeks · Human rights · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics · Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics · History · Law · Public Administration

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