A Century of Greek-Turkish Relations: A Handbook

VI INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE SAFETY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT -THEORY AND PRACTISE SAFETY FOR THE FUTURE -SecMan , 2020

The subject of this study, as a highly topical issue, is written with an aim to discover the causes of tensions in Greek-Turkish relations which affect their current political relations. Consequently, this study in chronological order outlines the events which marked Greek-Turkish relations in the 20th century and paved the way for future cooperation of the two countries. By addressing the origins of their disputes, which nowadays obstruct normalization of Greek-Turkish relations, this study will provide basic information for understanding current Greek-Turkish relations.

Milletleraras, 1999

turned a blind eye to the other's needs and fcars. However, as this has not bccn the ease, we are at presem end up with a fearful state of uneasiness in relations at the brink of war and with populations in each side thoroughly 'edueated' to distrust eaeh other at every Icvel. Hence, the basic assertion of this ehapter is that the existing disagreements and problem s between two states cannot be solved easily and summarily. Therefore, instead of running af ter magieal formulas for rapid reconeiliation, trying to ereate a general understanding and trusting environmem between the two states and more importantly between pcoples would have mueh beuer ehanees, over the long run, where all the mediating efforts of outsiders have failed. Living history Among the obstacles that prevents not only solving but even the diseussion of the existing problems, is the distrust between two natİons ercated by their 'living history'. In both Greeee and Turkey, 'history is not past; indecd, the past eominues to liye in the present'.3 This anomaly stems from the faet that both Turkeyand Greeee have obtained their national identities by fighting against, and interaeting wİth, eaeh other. Therefore, it would not be possible, for example, to understand the modem Greek history without taking the 'Turkish faetor' into aeeount. Almost every eomer of the modem day Greece had been under Turkish rule for about four hundred years, and modem Grecce bom out of struggle against the OUoman Empire. The popular Turkish image of Greek 'lndependenee War' is arebellion, instigatcd and supported by the Great Powers of the ı9 th century, who 'used' the Greeks for their own purposes to disimegrate the Ottoman Empire. In a similar fashion, modern Turkey eamed its nation-state status only after defeating Greek oeeupation forees in Westem Anatolia following the First World War. For the Greeks, this struggle, whieh is revered as the 'War of NaLİonal LiberaLİon' by the Turks, sLİIIremembcred as 'Asia Minor catastrophe'.4 The faet that the se two states earned their national identİtİes by fighting with eaeh other has undoubtedly affected their subscquem relations. It also reinforeed identity crises of both pcoples. Both Turkeyand Greecemay be more so Turkey now-have felt insecure about their situation bctween East and West. Though 'they share a eommon heritage', Le., Ouoman-Levantİne, neither Greeee nor Turkey, for different reasons, wishes to

Fuat Aksu, “Turkish – Greek Relations: From Conflict to Détente the Last Decade”, Turkish Review of Balkan Studies, Annual 2001.

Organization, 1991

A Century of Greek-Turkish Relations, 2024

Turkish Relations is an important handbook written by leading authorities from both shores of the Aegean Sea. Greek and Turkish scholars present in a balanced and objective way, as well as in a graspable and meaningful manner, the main periods in which key events brought the two sides into dispute or even conflict. These events, which are integrated in parallel and conflicting national narratives, fuel the historicity of the two national rivals. A century since the end of the Greek-Turkish war, the trauma of the Greek military defeat and the "disaster of the Asia Minor Greeks", the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and the emblematic Treaty of Lausanne, render this kind of handbook undoubtedly essential. It opens the discussion to the wider audience in a rational and composed way and most importantly, the reader can follow through the pages, the dialogue between Turkish and Greek scholars. A book of this kind was missing from public history."-Prof. Sia Anagnostopoulou, Panteion University "As an expert on the subject of "minorities" for the past fifty years with a number of publications in Turkish, English, and French, and based on the experts that are participating in the A Century of Greek-Turkish Relations: A Handbook, there is no doubt that this will become an indispensable tool, and above all, an objective account of the Greek-Turkish relations for both experts and the wider public."-Prof. (emeritus) Baskin Oran, Ankara University "As editors of this important and timely book, Nikos Christofis and Anthony Deriziotis assert that uneducated narratives have perpetuated misunderstandings within Turkish-Greek relations. In their enlightening work, they dismantle these misconceptions, offering a nuanced exploration of the historical and contemporary complexities between the two nations. By featuring insights from leading experts, this book provides a crucial resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Turkish-Greek relations, presenting new historical insights and analytical viewpoints on bilateral relations."-Prof. Evren Balta, Özyeğin University "A comprehensive and insightful survey of Greek-Turkish relations. A number of distinguished academics have offered their expertise succeeding in the formidable task of touching upon several sensitive issues avoiding stereotypes and easy readings of problems that are burdened by history. A must read for students and experts alike."

Many would suggest that Turkish-Greek relations have entered on a new phase in recent years in the post-Cold War era. Nevertheless, questions are being asked about how traditional and ingredient antagonisms along with clash of interests between two countries can be redefined to accommodate the causes of failures and what are the sorts of issues that need to be addressed as the preconditions for better relationships?

2019

The Greek-Turkish controversy has been approached from a variety of perspectives over the last few decades. While innumerable articles and books have been written on the conflict itself, there are no historical studies on the literature and discourses employed by the parties in question. Such a review would shed light on the historical dimension of the controversy, and more specifically, on the ways in which the parties perceived, experienced, and administered the conflict. It would also contribute to an evaluation of prevalent tendencies today, and to forecasting future developments.

2009

This chapter focuses on the way in which the historical event of the 1923 Lausanne exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey has a continuous effect on the relations between these two countries. Through the long term separation of their peoples, the common ground of shared experience was lost. That path was by no means inevitable, however, for changes in the late nineteenth century in the imperial regimes of the region suggest that other possibilities existed. After World War I, the nation state was the preferred political form, and consequently the imposition of an ideology of homogeneity necessitated the rewriting of history. Enmity and confl icts were emphasised in offi cial narratives which are used by both sides, among the mechanisms involved in nation building, while the role of memory and of emotions evoked by images of the past are seen as part of socialisation into attitudes which can hinder the development of better bilateral relations. We should bear in mind that the possibility of change always exists since human beings are essentially teachable and their cultural attributes are dynamic and subject to many and varied infl uences. The attitudes formed by history's long shadow are by no means immutable, therefore, as recent moves towards reconciliation would indicate.

2002

The causes of the current Greek-Turkish rapprochement progress are explored in this book in relation both to the international environment, which is increasingly conducive to this progress, and significant domestic changes. ... The causes of the current Greek-Turkish rapprochement progress are explored in this book in relation both to the international environment, which is increasingly conducive to this progress, and significant domestic changes.

Paper Presented in “Comparing and contrasting “Europeanization”: concepts and experiences", organized by Institute of International Economic Relations and London School of Economics Hellenic Observatory, Athens, May 14-16,2012.