Papers by Vemund Aarbakke
The Independent Republic of Gumuldjina (1913): A New Test for Young Turk Policymakers
Urban Space and Bulgarian–Greek Antagonism in Thrace, 1870–1912
Ethnic rivalry and the quest for Macedonia, 1870-1913
PrefacePlacename VariantsPart I: Basic Structures and Preconditions IntroductionGeographical Exte... more PrefacePlacename VariantsPart I: Basic Structures and Preconditions IntroductionGeographical Extent of MacedoniaDemographic Distribution and Demographic Changes1. Bulgarian Figures2. Greek Figures3. Ottoman Figures4. Ethnic BordersAgricultural StructuresEconomic Decline and Foreign InterferenceThe Millet System1. The Transformation of the Christian Millets. National AwakeningPart II: Early Developments The Bulgarian Renaissance and Early School Policy1. The Case of Veles2. ConclusionsThe Establishment of the Exarchate1. The Bulgarian Struggle to Extend their Influence2. Developments in Veles After the Establishment of the Exarchate3. The Patriarchate's PolicyPart III: Wars and Unrest The Russo-Ottoman War - The Peace TreatiesLocal Insurrections1. The Greeks2. Bulgarian-Macedonian3. Interpreting the Kresna Uprising4. The Albanian Movement5. Further Actions by Armed BandsPart IV: The Struggle for Influence The Orientation of the Various Groups After the Treaty of Berlin1. Emigrati...
Drafts by Vemund Aarbakke
Talks by Vemund Aarbakke
In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars and World War I, today’s region of Greek Thrace – also known ... more In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars and World War I, today’s region of Greek Thrace – also known as Western Thrace found itself in the midst of local antagonisms and nationalisms. The fate of the region was one of the most complex issues the Allies had to resolve. With its proximity to Istanbul, it had a mixed population and was claimed by Bulgaria, Greece and the Ottoman Empire, which had fought over it during the Balkan Wars. Hence, until the Allies reached a decision on the fate of the region, a provisional Allied administration was established under the auspices of the French Army, known as the ‘Thrace Interalliée’ regime (October 1919-May 1920), which then handed over the administration of the area to Greece, something that was officially decreed with the Lausanne treaty (24 July 1923).
During the period 1912-1923 the Muslim population of Western Thrace witnessed dramatic changes to its status, from being a dominant community to becoming a minority group. The ‘minoritization’ of the previously dominant Muslim population had already begun since 1913, when, as a result of the Balkan Wars, Western Thrace was ceded to Bulgaria. The minority was to face further challenges and shocks, with the consolidation of the Kemalist regime in Turkey, as Mustafa Kemal proceeded with a series of secular reforms that were unprecedented for a Muslim country. In Western Thrace, the ascendance of Kemalism met a rather skeptical audience as the Muslim population exhibited an overwhelmingly Islamic outlook. The minority was eventually divided between two camps: the Kemalists, who followed Kemalism and the new Turkish nationalism and the conservatives, who adhered to the traditional Islamic customs and way of life. Soon, the clash between the two camps spread over all aspects of the minority’s political and social life.
The early history of the Muslims of Western Thrace has not attracted much academic interest. Significant gaps remain in our understanding of the historical, social and political context, which shaped the position of the Thracian Muslims, during the formative period of the 1920s. The present paper will try to fill those gaps by examining the internal response of the minority, the impact of Kemalism on its internal power structure, and the parallel development of its relations with the Greek authorities.
Place: Department of Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki.
Date: 21 March 2015.
Organization: Modernity battling tradition: the introduction of Kemalism to the Muslim minority of Western Thrace, 1920-1930
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Papers by Vemund Aarbakke
Drafts by Vemund Aarbakke
Talks by Vemund Aarbakke
During the period 1912-1923 the Muslim population of Western Thrace witnessed dramatic changes to its status, from being a dominant community to becoming a minority group. The ‘minoritization’ of the previously dominant Muslim population had already begun since 1913, when, as a result of the Balkan Wars, Western Thrace was ceded to Bulgaria. The minority was to face further challenges and shocks, with the consolidation of the Kemalist regime in Turkey, as Mustafa Kemal proceeded with a series of secular reforms that were unprecedented for a Muslim country. In Western Thrace, the ascendance of Kemalism met a rather skeptical audience as the Muslim population exhibited an overwhelmingly Islamic outlook. The minority was eventually divided between two camps: the Kemalists, who followed Kemalism and the new Turkish nationalism and the conservatives, who adhered to the traditional Islamic customs and way of life. Soon, the clash between the two camps spread over all aspects of the minority’s political and social life.
The early history of the Muslims of Western Thrace has not attracted much academic interest. Significant gaps remain in our understanding of the historical, social and political context, which shaped the position of the Thracian Muslims, during the formative period of the 1920s. The present paper will try to fill those gaps by examining the internal response of the minority, the impact of Kemalism on its internal power structure, and the parallel development of its relations with the Greek authorities.
Place: Department of Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki.
Date: 21 March 2015.
Organization: Modernity battling tradition: the introduction of Kemalism to the Muslim minority of Western Thrace, 1920-1930
During the period 1912-1923 the Muslim population of Western Thrace witnessed dramatic changes to its status, from being a dominant community to becoming a minority group. The ‘minoritization’ of the previously dominant Muslim population had already begun since 1913, when, as a result of the Balkan Wars, Western Thrace was ceded to Bulgaria. The minority was to face further challenges and shocks, with the consolidation of the Kemalist regime in Turkey, as Mustafa Kemal proceeded with a series of secular reforms that were unprecedented for a Muslim country. In Western Thrace, the ascendance of Kemalism met a rather skeptical audience as the Muslim population exhibited an overwhelmingly Islamic outlook. The minority was eventually divided between two camps: the Kemalists, who followed Kemalism and the new Turkish nationalism and the conservatives, who adhered to the traditional Islamic customs and way of life. Soon, the clash between the two camps spread over all aspects of the minority’s political and social life.
The early history of the Muslims of Western Thrace has not attracted much academic interest. Significant gaps remain in our understanding of the historical, social and political context, which shaped the position of the Thracian Muslims, during the formative period of the 1920s. The present paper will try to fill those gaps by examining the internal response of the minority, the impact of Kemalism on its internal power structure, and the parallel development of its relations with the Greek authorities.
Place: Department of Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki.
Date: 21 March 2015.
Organization: Modernity battling tradition: the introduction of Kemalism to the Muslim minority of Western Thrace, 1920-1930