They All Made Peace - What's Peace?: The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the New Imperial Order

The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne was a different peace settlement from Versailles, as the defeated Ottoman Empire had initially been presented with a dictated peace in 1920. The Kemalist insurgency turned defeat into victory, enabling Turkey to claim its place as the first sovereign state in the Middle East. For 1.5m Ottoman Greeks and Balkan Muslims, 'making peace involved forced population exchanges, now understood as ethnic cleansing. Chapters consider competing visions for a post-Ottoman world, situate the population exchanges relative to other peace-making efforts, and discuss economic factors behind the reallocation of Ottoman debt and refugee flows and oil politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2023
Publisher: Gingko Library

The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which marked the end of the post-World War One peace settlements, stands out as a unique and complex accord. While it may have been considered the final chapter in the aftermath of the war, it bore significant differences from the Versailles Treaty. Similar to its German and Austro-Hungarian allies, the defeated Ottoman Empire initially faced a dictated peace in 1920. However, within just two years, the Kemalist insurgency managed to turn defeat into victory, granting Turkey its rightful place as the first sovereign state in the Middle East. This remarkable transformation was a testament to the resilience and determination of the Turkish people.

At the same time, the communities that had coexisted with Turks within the Ottoman Empire faced a challenging struggle to assert their own sovereignty. They were caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between the Soviet Union and the resurgence of empire in the form of League of Nations mandates. For approximately 1.5 million Ottoman Greeks and Balkan Muslims, the process of making peace entailed forced population exchanges, a practice now recognized as ethnic cleansing. These exchanges resulted in significant displacement and upheaval, leaving deep scars and enduring consequences.

The chapters in this book explore various visions for a post-Ottoman world, placing the population exchanges within the broader context of peace-making efforts. They examine the economic factors that drove the reallocation of Ottoman debt, as well as the flows of refugees and the politics surrounding oil. Furthermore, the book delves into the perspectives of Arab, Armenian, American, and Iranian individuals, shedding light on their experiences and the enduring impact of Lausanne on contemporary politics, both within Turkey and beyond its borders.

The legacy of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne extends far into the present day, casting a long shadow over contemporary politics. It serves as a reminder of the complex and multifaceted nature of peace agreements, the challenges faced by nations in transition, and the ongoing struggles for sovereignty and identity in the region. As we reflect on the past, it is essential to learn from the lessons of history and work towards a future that is built on respect, cooperation, and the pursuit of a just and equitable world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914983054