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

Peter Mackridge (Editor), Eleni Yannakakis (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1859731384 | ISBN-13: 978-1859731383 | Publication Date: March 1, 1997 | Edition: First Edition

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"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

About the Author

Peter Mackridge is a Professor, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages and Literature, at the University of Oxford.

Eleni Yannakakis is formerly a Research Officer, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages and Literature, at University of Oxford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berg Publishers; First Edition edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859731384
• ISBN-13: 978-1859731383
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,863,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Serious Readers Only, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ourselves and Others: The Development of a Greek Macedonian Cultural Identity since 1912 (Hardcover)

An interesting presentation of the complex poly-ethnic history of Greek Macedonia. Nonetheless, the portrayal of the Greek state as operating a somewhat cultural genocide seems to prevail throughout most of the essays found in this book. Yet, the question of why the so-called "minority" Hellenic culture became the dominant force does not seem to be fully addressed. It seems that the admission of a dominant Greek presence throughout Macedonian history is currently not the norm and out of flavor in the world of academia.

2 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Greek Denial of the MACEDONIAN Name!, February 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ourselves and Others: The Development of a Greek Macedonian Cultural Identity since 1912 (Hardcover)

The most important thing to remember about the "Macedonian conflict" is that the Greek position has changed dramatically over the past decade. Official Greek government policy was that Macedonia did not exist. When Greece took over Aegean Macedonia in 1913, they killed, tortured and ethnically cleansed hundreds of thousands of Macedonians. They changed the names of people, villages, and landmarks from Macedonian to Greek in their attempts to eradicate the Macedonian name. Two things to remember:

1. It is ironic that Greeks now "love Macedonia" when they tried to eradicate its very existence.

2. If Macedonia has always been Greek, why did the Greek government deny its existence until the 1980's?