3 APR 2024 · Welcome back to our podcast series "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We continue to talk about the population that were not part of the exchange, but were greatly affected by its nationalist spirit. Last episode we talked about the experiences of the Greeks of Imbros. In this episode, we host Foti Benlisoy and turn our attention to the Greeks of Istanbul.  Foti graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. He conducted his graduate and doctoral studies in the history department of Boğaziçi University. He has been working with many publishing houses and journals as a translator and editor for a long time. He is one of the founders of Istos Publishing House. Mert Koçak conducted the interview with Foti in Turkish. Merve Bakdur summarized and commented on the episode in English and Community Peacemaker Teams in Greek.  Foti opens the discussion by explaining the reasons for the population erosion experienced by the Greeks of Istanbul. It is undeniable that major historical events such as the wealth tax in 1942, the September 6-7 events in 1955, the Greek Exile in 1964, and the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 played a role in the decline of the Greek population. However, Foti underlines that discriminatory practices in everyday life are just as important as these major events. Touching on the consequences of population erosion, Foti explains that Greeks lost their secular and national leaders in this process. After the population exchange, the process of non-religious institutions shaping politics during the Tanzimat period was interrupted and the Patriarchate regained its leadership status. Foti then discusses what it meant for Greeks to be Istanbulite and how they preserved this identity. 

19 MAR 2024 · Welcome back to our podcast series, "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! In previous episodes, we delved into the stories of those with family histories tied to the exchange. In this episode, we explore the impact on Imbros, a region whose population was not included in the exchange but was profoundly affected by its nationalist fervor. Our guest for this episode is Stelyo Berber, a musician born in Imbros. After years spent in Athens and Istanbul, he returned to Imbros and now serves as a music teacher and principal at Aya Todori Greek Primary School. Simultaneously, he endeavors to preserve Greek cultural heritage through the Imbros Education and Culture Association. Stelyo was interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu in https://open.spotify.com/episode/6EJDGrhDEHBAIhfrwpfXTb?si=d9a251f974dc438e. Ozan Mirkan Balpetek summarized and commented on the episode in English and Community Peacemaker Teams in https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FxrPffVJixoUhnm2E8NUN?si=abf7d4bb44914939. Given that the repercussions of the exchange extended beyond the displaced, we broaden our discussion to include areas and individuals indirectly affected. Stelyo sheds light on Imbros' past and present, where the Greek population declined following the exchange. Throughout the 20th century, ongoing migration stemmed largely from state policies and regional political circumstances. Stelyo discusses the challenges faced by departing or forcibly displaced Greeks from Imbros, along with the partial destruction of property and cultural heritage. He also explores how memories of Imbros are preserved and transmitted. Lastly, he shares the motivations, hopes, and concerns of those, like himself, who have returned to Imbros in recent years. 

27 FEB 2024 · Welcome back to "Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move"! We are embarking on another leg of our journey tracing the footsteps of migrants and refugees whose stories have left an indelible mark on the Aegean landscape. In this episode, together with Merih Erol, we explore the Armenians who sought refuge in Greece during the 1920s, following the Armenian Genocide. She was interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu. Ece Koçak summarized and provided commentary on Merih’s episode in https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zAiKb8PdjQB3Ms9a8CoZS?si=258031742e0746f9, while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NMreVhiv3quC8OCDONkLr?si=ef67df757acd494e. Merih tells how she became interested in this lesser-explored facet of migration history. We discuss the motivations of the Armenians who migrated to Greece during that era, as well as the myriad challenges they confronted upon arrival. Furthermore, we explore the mutual benefits that historical studies, such as this one, can offer to the field of refugee studies, and vice versa. Lastly, we examine how the memory of this displacement resonates among younger generations of Armenian Greeks, shaping their identities. A brief remark for future chapters: From this chapter onwards, we will begin to look at communities that were not subject to the exchange agreement, but were affected by the conditions that made the exchange possible. In the following chapters, we will focus on the experience of Greeks from Imbros and Istanbul.

13 FEB 2024 · Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we delve into the historical and contemporary migrations across the Aegean. Here we are with another episode, where we listen to the stories of those with a family history of the exchange. Our guest in this episode is Veli Başyiğit. In this episode, our guest is Veli Başyiğit. Veli, a cultural worker, focuses on social memory, confronting difficult pasts, preserving cultural heritage and disseminating knowledge about these issues in creative ways. The original language of the episode is https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xlIia4pdVIM6qItOqSTSH?si=442739e301ec4276. Mert Koçak summarizes and comments on the episode in English, and while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MKaGEzFnQ24nitT4JWWkk?si=a920f82967ad4b20. Veli discusses the various forced migrations his family endured. Some relatives were displaced due to tensions and conflicts in the Aegean region before the First World War, while others had to relocate to Turkey as a result of the population exchange. Veli shares significant narratives highlighting how migrating for different reasons and via different methods can yield varied impacts on the formation of national identity. Veli's grandmother, having arrived in Turkey without the relative legal protection afforded by a migration movement like the population exchange, emphasizes her Turkish identity more strongly. Conversely, his grandfather, a participant in the exchange, maintains his Cretan identity; he does not give up Greek and Greek music. Veli underscores the importance of embracing multiple identities in contrast to the homogenizing efforts of nation-states. He elaborates on how subsequent generations after migration sustain their Cretan identity through various means: engaging with Greek music, learning the language, preparing Cretan cuisine, and visiting Crete…

30 JAN 2024 · Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we hear about the Exchange, its aftermath, and its memory today through people who have/had relatives within their families who were exchanged. We try to understand how contemporary Greece introduced and historicized the Exchange to the upcoming generations in the last 100 years. Following the footsteps of our previous episode with Emilia Salvanou, we explore how the ripples of the Exchange can still be felt in the current reception of migrants today in Greece. We are joined by Thanos Skourtas, a local from Lesvos and a member of the Legal Centre Lesvos. He shared with us the stories of his maternal grandparents, how he was introduced to this heritage, why he wasn’t able to learn more, and what relationship he sees with his past and the stories of migrants he is working together with today. Skourtas was kind enough to do the recording in both English and https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CuR2ugZSnOLVzXSexf2uH?si=c911d1d292b24ac0. He was interviewed by Ozan Mirkan Balpetek. Mert Koçak summarized and provided commentary on Skourtas’s story and remarks in https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eQsuvTaZFJ0gzedsXmDjK?si=c759e18624954f2e.

16 JAN 2024 · Welcome back to 'Crossing the Aegean: A Century of People on the Move,' where we embark on an exploration into the historical and contemporary trajectory of migration across the Aegean. In this episode, we bring forth the experience of refugees in the 1920s after the Population Exchange. We shed light on their arduous journey upon arrival in Greece, showcasing their resilience in confronting challenges and forging new lives. Additionally, we explore the parallels between the experiences of these exchange communities and the contemporary struggles of asylum seekers, examining themes of otherness, exclusion, and the social cohesion difficulties they face today. Our guest for today’s episode is Emilia Salvanou, who is interviewed by Noémi Lévy-Aksu. Since the main language of the episode is English, Merve Bakdur summarized and provided commentary on Salvanou's insights in https://open.spotify.com/episode/4W1GKYN9zeeZUyQT0PtTfl?si=a06e98e08ec44edf, while Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Uma7lRYuJzaAnqdkomUaC?si=351bd5b706844c33.

2 JAN 2024 · Welcome to the first episode of the “Crossing the Aegean” series! In this episode, we’re exploring the history of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in depth with historian Noémi Lévy-Aksu. We start by looking at how the communities involved in the exchange were chosen and then look into the social and cultural impact this exchange had on both sides of the Aegean. Our guest for this episode is Noémi Lévy-Aksu. She is interviewed by Mert Koçak. Since the main language of the episode is English, Merve Bakdur summarized and provided commentary on Lévy-Aksu's insights in https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SOEkOV3vPqH4ynlrs63Xg, while our friends from Community Peacemaker Teams did the same in https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SOEkOV3vPqH4ynlrs63Xg.

19 DEC 2023 · Welcome to the intro episode of our podcast series! The aim of this episode is to provide our listeners with comprehensive background information on the 1923 Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey, which took place 100 years ago. First of all, we will explain the historical and political developments that led to the exchange and how the exchange took place. Afterwards, we will talk about how religion-based national identity came to the fore in the exchange process, where the prerequisite for Turkishness was to believe in Sunni Islam, while the prerequisite for Greekness was to believe in Orthodox Christianity. Finally, we will briefly describe the migration policies that both countries implemented for 100 years in order to remain loyal to religion-based national identity. For your questions and comments about the episode, please contact us at info@hafiza-merkezi.org.