Politics of the Jewish community of Salonika in the inter-war years : party ideologies and party competition
Throughout four centuries of Ottoman domination, Salonika Jews had managed to preserve their particular ethnic identity and to occupy an important position in the economic life of the city. In 1912 Salonika was annexed to the Greek nation-state, and only decades later various sources of the early 1930s were emphasising the economic and social degradation of the Jewish community. Existing bibliography has tended to underline almost exclusively the role of Greek politics and Greek society as the major explanatory factor of the community's decline. This thesis challenges this approach and argues that intra-communal politics within the inter-war years had a significant share of responsibility for the crisis which threatened Salonika Jews in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Indeed, Jewish political elites were deeply split over issues of fundamental importance for the community, resulting in political deadlock. Consequently, the community was caught up in fierce ideological debates and was deprived of a solid communal leadership able to steer them through unsettled waters. In order to account for this explanation, the thesis reassesses as a first step Greek majority policies and argues that notwithstanding the numerous
Vassilikou, Maria
Ethnic identity; Ottoman domination; Greece
Politics of the Jewish community of Salonika in the inter-war years : party ideologies and party competition. Throughout four centuries of Ottoman domination, Salonika Jews had managed to preserve their particular ethnic identity and to occupy an important position in the economic life of the city. In 1912 Salonika was annexed to the Greek nation-state, and only decades later various sources of the early 1930s were emphasising the economic and social degradation of the Jewish community. Existing bibliography has tended to underline almost exclusively the role of Greek politics and Greek society as the major explanatory factor of the community's decline. This thesis challenges this approach and argues that intra-communal politics within the inter-war years had a significant share of responsibility for the crisis which threatened Salonika Jews in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Indeed, Jewish political elites were deeply split over issues of fundamental importance for the community, resulting in political deadlock. Consequently, the community was caught up in fierce ideological debates and was deprived of a solid communal leadership able to steer them through unsettled waters. In order to account for this explanation, the thesis reassesses as a first step Greek majority policies and argues that notwithstanding the numerous
politics jewish_community inter_war_year party ideology party competition throughout ottoman domination jews manage preserve particular ethnic_identity occupy important position economic life_city annex greek nation_state various source emphasise economic_social degradation jewish_community existing bibliography tend underline almost_exclusively role greek politics greek_society major explanatory factor community decline challenge argue intra communal politics within inter_war_year significant share responsibility crisis threaten jews indeed jewish political_elite deeply split issue fundamental_importance community result political consequently community catch fierce ideological debate deprive solid communal leadership able steer unsettle water order account explanation reassess first_step greek majority policy argue notwithstanding numerous