Nationalism, Militarism and Masculinity in Post-Conflict Cyprus

The understanding of the world of soldiers who go to war in the name of the nation and that manhood is normalised by polices of propaganda, has in fact, created little knowledge of the relationship between nationalism, militarism and masculinity, which penetrates the very fabric of societies after violent conflicts.

What does it mean to be a man, preparing for another war in an unresolved conflict? What happens when that masculinity and militarism are contained within the European family? Stratis Efthymiou answers these critical questions with fieldwork research in Cyprus with military officials, elite interviews with politicians such as President of Republic Mr Glafkos Clerides, policymakers, leaders of radical far-right movements and the Greek Cypriot public.

More than forty years after the conflict between Cyprus and Turkey, we see how identity and everyday choices are situated within post-conflict masculinity. Innovatively, Efthymiou brings out the policy apparatus of the Cyprus Ministry of Defence as it grapples with its military identity, with first-hand reflections from his work there in 2015. The book explains the continuing post-conflict politics between Cyprus and Turkey, at present situated on the maritime borders. It is a must in understanding gender, post-conflict societies, and defence politics.