Greek nationalism
Encyclopedia
Rise of nationalism in Europe
Nationalism has been an important factor in the development of Europe. In the 19th century, a wave of romantic nationalism swept the continent of Europe transforming the countries of the continent. Some new countries, such as Germany and Italy were formed by uniting smaller states with a common...
in the 19th century, and was characterised by the struggle for independence against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, culminating in the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
(1821–1829), assisted by philhellenes
Philhellenism
Philhellenism was an intellectual fashion prominent at the turn of the 19th century, that led Europeans like Lord Byron or Charles Nicolas Fabvier to advocate for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire...
such as Lord Byron.
After independence was achieved, the new Greek state embarked on a project of imperial (Byzantine) restoration, the Megali Idea
Megali Idea
The Megali Idea was an irredentist concept of Greek nationalism that expressed the goal of establishing a Greek state that would encompass all ethnic Greek-inhabited areas, since large Greek populations after the restoration of Greek independence in 1830 still lived under Ottoman rule.The term...
.
History
During its history Greek nationalism viewed Orthodox Christian AlbaniansAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
, Aromanians
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
and Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
as communities that could (and should) be assimilated into the Greek nation. Greek irredentism
Irredentism
Irredentism is any position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity or prior historical possession, actual or alleged. Some of these movements are also called pan-nationalist movements. It is a feature of identity politics and cultural...
, the "Megali Idea
Megali Idea
The Megali Idea was an irredentist concept of Greek nationalism that expressed the goal of establishing a Greek state that would encompass all ethnic Greek-inhabited areas, since large Greek populations after the restoration of Greek independence in 1830 still lived under Ottoman rule.The term...
" suffered a setback in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
, and the Greek genocide. Since then, Greco-Turkish relations
Greco-Turkish relations
The relations between the Greek and the Turkish states have been marked by alternating periods of mutual hostility and reconciliation ever since Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821...
have been characterized by tension between Greek and Turkish nationalism
Turkish nationalism
Turkish nationalism is a political ideology that promotes and glorifies the Turkish people, as either a national, ethnic or linguistic group and puts the interests of the state over other influences, including religious ones.-Pan-Turkism:...
, culminating in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
(1974). The Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
has been a popular source of Greek nationalism.
Nationalism played a significant role in Greek politics during the first century and a half of existence of the Greek state. Nationalist parties, past and present, include:
- The Nationalist PartyNationalist Party (Greece)The Nationalist Party of Greece was the conservative and expansionist political party from 1865-1909. It was opposed primarily by the New Party of Charilaos Trikoupis....
of Greece was active 1865-1909. - 4th of August Party4th of August PartyThe 4th of August Party was a radical Greek nationalist political party, founded in July 1965 by a group of young nationalists and led by Konstantinos Plevris...
(defunct) - National AlignmentNational AlignmentNational Alignment was a nationalist-conservative Greek political party that contested only the 1977 legislative election, winning 7% of the vote and five seats...
(defunct) - Chrysi Avgi (active)
- Party of Hellenism (defunct)
- National Political UnionNational Political UnionThe National Political Union, better known as EPEN was a Greek far-right political party. The party was founded on January 30, 1984 by jailed former junta leader Georgios Papadopoulos. It participated in the 1985 general election...
(defunct) - Hellenic FrontHellenic FrontThe Hellenic Front was a Greek political party with a strongly nationalist platform, founded in 1994. Its declared raison d'être is to raise national conscience and inspire freedom, creativity, and development by reversing what it sees as dependence on foreign economies and ideas...
(defunct) - Front LineFront Line (political party)Front Line was a Greek nationalist party, formed in 1999.The party was headed by lawyer, historian, and nationalist thinker Konstantinos Plevris....
(defunct) - Popular Orthodox RallyPopular Orthodox RallyThe Popular Orthodox Rally or The People's Orthodox Rally , often abbreviated to ΛΑ.Ο.Σ as a pun on the Greek word for people, is a Greek party. According to its political program LA.O.S...
(parliamentaryHellenic ParliamentThe Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
) - Patriotic AlliancePatriotic AlliancePatriotic Alliance was a short-lived Greek nationalist political party, founded in 2004...
(defunct)
See also
- Ethniki EtairiaEthniki EtairiaThe Ethniki Etaireia was a secret Greek nationalistic organization created in November 1894, by a number of young nationalist officers, advocates of the Megali Idea...
- PhilhellenismPhilhellenismPhilhellenism was an intellectual fashion prominent at the turn of the 19th century, that led Europeans like Lord Byron or Charles Nicolas Fabvier to advocate for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire...
- Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman EmpireRise of nationalism under the Ottoman EmpireThe rise of the Western notion of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire eventually caused the break-down of the Ottoman millet concept...