Hellenic Statecraft and the Geopolitics of Difference

This book explores the competing definitions of Hellenism in the making of the Greek state, examining its role in shaping the state system, regional security, and nationalisms of the Balkans, Black Sea, and Eastern Mediterranean regions. It also explores the relation of subaltern communities to state power and the states ability and willingness to negotiate difference, and how the States identity politics shaped regional geopolitics in the past two centuries. With examples from fieldwork in Greek cities and borderlands, the book offers a wealth of primary research from geographers and historians on the modern history of Greek statehood.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate and multifaceted process of shaping the Greek state through competing definitions of Hellenism. By employing critical historical and geopolitical perspectives, it explores the intricate intersections of difference, exclusion, and identity in the formation of the Greek nation. The book examines Greece's central role in shaping the state systems, regional security, and nationalisms of the Balkans, the Black Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean regions. Understanding the social constitution of the Greek state provides valuable insights into the past, present, and future intentions and strategies of both local and national entities, as well as the broader European notions of security and identity.

The book also delves into the complex relationship between subaltern communities and state power, exploring the states' ability and willingness to negotiate difference. It further examines how the state's identity politics have shaped regional geopolitics over the past two centuries. Chapters present case studies that shed light on various aspects of Hellenization, such as the Jewish Thessaloniki, the Treaty of Lausanne, the settlement patterns, urbanization, and bordering practices in Eastern Macedonia and Western Thrace, and the politics surrounding the erection of the Athens Mosque, the first officially licensed mosque outside Western Thrace since Greek Independence.

Drawing from extensive fieldwork in Greek cities and borderlands, this book offers a wealth of primary research from geographers and historians on the modern history of Greek statehood. It is of paramount interest to scholars of political geography, international relations, and European history, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics that have shaped the Greek state and its region.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032006741