Recent Resonances of a Century Old Treaty: The Foundation of Lausanne Treaty Emigrants and Civic Diplomacy in the Turkish-Greek Realm

• Published in: Cahiers balkaniques (Paris) Vol. 50; pp. 107 - 124
• Main Author: Vardağlı, Emine Tutku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Turkish
• Published: Cahiers balkaniques 06-06-2024; Centre d'Études Balkaniques
• Subjects: 1923 exchange of populations; Centre for Mikrasiatic Studies; civil society diplomacy; Lausanne Exchange Foundation; Treaty of Lausanne; Ίδρυμα Ανταλλαγής Λωζάννης; sivil toplum diplomasi; Fondation des échangés de Lausanne; Lozan Antlaşması; Lozan Mübadele Vakfı; traité de Lausanne; Ανταλλαγή πληθυσμών του 1923; échange de populations de 1923; Συνθήκη της Λωζάνης; Treaty of Lausanne; 1923 exchange of populations; civil society diplomacy; 1923 Türk-Yunan Nüfus Mübadelesi; Lausanne Exchange Foundation; Micrasyalı Araştırmaları Merkezi; Centre d’études micrasiates; diplomatie de la société civile; Centre for Mikrasiatic Studies; Κέντρο Μικρασιατικών Σπουδών; διπλωματία της κοινωνίας των πολιτών
• ISSN: 0290-7402; 2261-4184
• DOI: 10.4000/11rxv

this study evaluates the Lausanne Population Exchange Protocol and its long-term effects on the Turkish-Greek civil dialogue. The Lausanne Population Exchange Protocol was one of the most contentious protocols of the Lausanne Treaty. The Protocol regulated the compulsory exchange of the Greek Orthodox inhabitants of Turkey with the Muslim inhabitants of Greece. The compulsory character of this forced migration has been debated a lot since the Lausanne Conference in 1923. It was a challenge to the civilization standards in 1920s. A hundred years after, it is a challenge to the contemporary human rights standards. However, the cross-border civil society organizations established by the descendants of the exchanged communities have a potential to reverse the situation and transform this diplomatic stalemate into a peaceful dialogue ground on the centenary.