Abstract

Nine decades after the Struggle for Macedonia ended, Greek historians are still reluctant to assess it scientifically. The extensive historiography available has varied according to the political exigency of the moment, whether that be offense, appeasement, or--most recently--defense. This was natural since the events of the Struggle were the first stage of a complicated diplomatic question that has still not been resolved. In this context, active participation and sacrifice in the Struggle evolved into an important symbol of national devotion and also into a suitable argument for Greek foreign policy. The use of a historic period as a national symbol is fully compatible with the Greeks' ethnic nationalism. But in the case of Greek Macedonia, the deliberate preservation of a specific historic memory has, instead of advancing social unity, hindered the social integration of all those who did not share enthusiasm about this past.

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