Politicised Borders: The Case of Greek Macedonia
1999; Springer Nature (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês
10.1007/978-94-011-4293-9_5
ISSN2215-0072
Autores Tópico(s)Balkans: History, Politics, Society
ResumoThe dissolution of Yugoslavia and the recognition of its most Southern Republic as an independent state under the name of ‘Republic of Macedonia’ (December 1991) has revived the spectres of the past in Greek and European headlines. The international conflict over the name of the new Republic, mass demonstrations in Salonica and Athens, the economic blockade imposed by Greece against its Northern neighbour in 1994, the re-emergence of irredentist ideas and political exploitation on both sides of the border, the excommunication of film director Angelopoulos and Marcello Mastroianni by the bishop of Florina during the production of his film ‘The Suspended Step of the Stork’ all these developments show to what extent the new situation in the Balkans has politicised a border, which has always been considered extremely ‘sensitive’. As such, it is loaded with history - a history which is constantly redrafted in the name of ‘national interest’, on both sides of the border. These different versions of ‘national history’ focus their attention on national heroes, like Alexander the Great and Goche Delchev, or on international diplomacy, but have very little to say about the social realities of the people actually living in the border area.
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