Perceptions of the Lausanne Treaty in the Greek public sphere

• Published in: Cahiers balkaniques (Paris) Vol. 50; pp. 87 - 103
• Main Author: Michailidis, Iakovos D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cahiers balkaniques 06-06-2024; Centre d'Études Balkaniques
• Subjects: Greek public opinion; Treaty of Lausanne; Treaty of Lausanne; Greek public opinion; ελληνική δημόσια γνώμη; Lozan Antlaşması; traité de Lausanne; Yunan kamuoyu; Συνθήκη της Λωζάνης; opinion publique grecque
• ISSN: 0290-7402; 2261-4184
• DOI: 10.4000/11rxs

the article focuses on the reception of the Treaty of Lausanne in Greece from 1923 until today. It argues that the Treaty was disadvantageous to Greece, due to its defeat in the war with Turkey from 1919 to 1922. During the interwar period, the Treaty was criticized by several sides, mainly regarding the compulsory exchange of the Greek and Turkish populations. However, the majority of Greeks accepted it as the only option. From the early 1930s onwards, the Treaty of Lausanne gradually became a fundamental pillar of Greek foreign policy. Today, Greece strongly supports the implementation of the Treaty of Lausanne, often accusing Turkey of violating it.