The Roles of Refugee and Exchangee Associations in Greek and Turkish Civil Society

Abstract

Established by the descendants of those impacted by the 1922–23 forced migration/population exchange in Greece and Turkey, refugee and exchangee associations have become increasingly visible in both countries in recent decades. However, these associations have been the subject of surprisingly few studies from the perspectives of civil society and identity. Through a comparative examination backed up by fieldwork, this article suggests a reconsideration of the associations as dynamic and fluid units in dialogue with the past, present, and future. Furthermore, it argues that despite the similarity of the mechanisms through which refugee and exchangee identities were institutionalized and nationalized, they actually play different roles in Greek and Turkish civil society and should not be viewed as organizations with similar structures and experiences or as exact counterparts to one another. Their motivations, positions, and aspirations differ, as do the effects they have on the formation of refugee and exchangee identities.