Ourselves and Others: The Development of a Greek Macedonian Cultural Identity since 1912

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When it was incorporated into the Greek state in 1912, Greek Macedonia constituted a mosaic of populations who spoke different languages and shared different cultures and religions. The Greek state, the local authorities and the local intelligentsia strove to achieve the ethnic and cultural assimilation of all these populations -- in the end, with varying degrees of success. Long the site of fierce nationalist activity, Macedonia is a revealing microcosm of the ethnic divides that resist the homogenizing tendencies of nation-states throughout the world. This timely and interdisciplinary book brings together the work of specialists in various fields to spotlight the cultural processes of assimilation that have taken place in Greek Macedonia since 1912. It sheds new light on the old and complex socio-historical roots of this hotly contested area and of the Balkans in general, and will serve as a model for future studies on nationalism, ethnic identity and cultural heritage.

Reviews

"This is an enlightening book which takes a controversial topic and subjects it to rigorous academic scrutiny. ... One very pleasing feature of the sociological studies included in this volume is that they convey their message without recourse to the off-putting and virtually impenetrable jargon which all too frequently obscures works of this nature." The Greek Gazette "This book adopts an inter-disciplinary approach to a much-debated problem that has affected past and contemporary Balkan (and also European) politics: the 'Macedonian question'. The book offers a coherent and well structured collection of papers addressing the development of a Greek Macedonian cultural identity since 1912 from a historical, anthropological and literary perspective. However, each paper could also stand alone as an independent study that adds to our knowledge of Greek Macedonian society and culture [...] providing the reader with rich and detailed materials as well as with a variety of theoretical approaches." Synthesis: Review of Modern Greek Studies "I recommend the volume to students of the Macedonian question, but also to Balkanologists and anthropologists" Nationalism & Ethnic Politics "this thoughtful book, generous in scope and heterogeneous in viewpoint... " American Ethnologist, August 1998 'I recommend the volume to students of the Macedonian question, but also to Balkanologists and anthropologists.' Nationalism and Ethnic Politics 'The authors are deeply aware of the social construction of human ties and their essays explore this process with fascinating results.' South European Society and Politics

Author Bio

Peter Mackridge Professor,Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages and Literature, University of Oxford Eleni Yannakakis Formerly a Research Officer, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages and Literature, University of Oxford