Contextualizing Atrocity : The Ottoman Greeks' Suffering through the Athenian Newspapers Estia and Empros, May 1919-December 1922

Abstract: The present thesis offers an innovative perspective analysing the perception of Turkish atrocities against the Ottoman Greek communities during the temporal period May 1919-December 1922 through the Athenian newspapers Estia and Empros, which were committed to the ubiquitous Greek irredentist vision of the Megali Idea. Delving into theories which emphasize on the political nature of nationalism, on national mobilisation and on the exploitation of mass communication by the elite, this thesis attempts to elaborate on the inclusion of the Ottoman Greeks into an expanded Greek nation-state, based on the principle of self-determination. Hence, from the Greek Press' perspective, the presented Turkish atrocities against a part of the Greek nation and potential subjects of a broadened Greek state had been contextualized on the basis of Greek nationalism. The study shows that, despite the widespread and divided Greek communities in the Ottoman Empire/Turkey, Estia and Empros were declaring that their common denominator had been their Greek self-determination and the fact that all these communities were viewing the Greek state and the Greek army as their guarantors for their safety. Adding to the agents of Hellenism also the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Estia and Empros were highlighting the crucial role of these agents towards the endangered Ottoman Greek communities. Thus, the presentation of the respective information in the newspapers was leaning on this theoretical schema.