About the Author
My name is Yianni Contis and I am a recent graduate of American University, from which I received my M.A. in history. I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to Greek parents, and I specialize in Byzantine and modern Greek studies. Therefore, I wrote my second master's research paper on the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus, and I hope to publish it in your journal!
Document Type
Article
Abstract
On July 15th, 1974, a Greek-sponsored coup overthrew the Cypriot government of Archbishop Makarios III, first president and founder of Cyprus. Five days later, Turkish armed forces invaded and ultimately partitioned the Mediterranean island, displacing roughly 180,000 Greek Cypriots. The United States, prioritizing Turkey's value to NATO and greater geopolitical interests, decided to leave Cyprus to its fate. However, a significant element of this crisis has remained largely unexamined: the longstanding animosity between Makarios and US officials. This tumultuous relationship proved just as strong a factor to the larger diplomatic failure of the period. Figures like John F. Kennedy and Henry Kissinger greatly distrusted Makarios, due to his stringent non-aligned policy and strong support from communists. Moreover, the State Department often referred to the archbishop as 'Byzantine,' an archaic term used to describe deviousness and backwardness, which further bolstered Makarios' negative reputation in Washington. Therefore, this paper argues that the history of anti-Makarios sentiment among US officials greatly influenced the American hands-off approach to the greater Cyprus Problem, affecting both the July coup and the subsequent Turkish invasion.
Recommended Citation
Contis, Yianni G.
(2026)
"‘The Byzantine Bishop’: Makarios III, US Foreign Policy and the Cyprus Problem, 1960–1977,"
Madison Historical Review: Vol. 23, Article 3.
Available at:
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/mhr/vol23/iss1/3
Revised manuscript according to the MHR's suggested revisions.
