Performing Identity: The Case of the (Greek) Cypriot National Guard

Students of International Relations are taught that the modern nation-state has a monopoly on (legitimate) use violence. However, in case Republic Cyprus this does not seem to be case, since its armed forces, Cypriot National Guard (CNG), intimately embedded within Greece’s military structure, and half island remains under Turkish occupation. The colonization (1571–1960) subsequent decolonization led gradual construction two rigid identities, Greek Turkish, have been institutionalized legally imposed constitutionally. This paper seeks answer questions. First, how CNG perform therefore constitute ‘Greek identity’? Second, is performance epistemically violent, hindering formation hybrid identities? We autoethnography, interviews, insights from Pierre Bourdieu’s concept habitus Judith Butler’s performativity theory explore these argue performs identity three key configurations: 1) operational link between Army CNG; 2) explicit connection both ancient Greece through various insignia practices, including parades marching songs; 3) entrenchment Orthodox Church practices.