PhD thesis defence by Andreas Kalokairinos.
This research project examines the question of politicization and the simultaneous emergence of associational life in Crete right after the induction of the Ottoman reforms of the 19th century. Both aspects are approached as being part of the wider processes of collective identities formation and bottom-up state-building. The period under examination is the time when Crete was introduced to the 19th century Ottoman reform project (Tanzimat) through two legislative acts: the Organic Law of 1868 and the Halepa Pact of 1878.
By focusing on this period, one can observe the adaptability of the Ottoman administration in the ways it dealt with locality (local loyalties and balance of power) and the balance of power in Crete and in various regions of the empire. Through the 19th century’s experimental reforms the population of Crete faced new possibilities: the local elites were able to claim their share in decision-making as representative institutions with extended jurisdictions were established on the island. At the same time, the social sphere was further expanded and became more visible through the legislative provisions regarding the publication of newspapers and the establishment of associations.
Through analyzing the main characteristics of the political and associational life in Crete during this period, I identify how parts of the local population collectively mobilized and publicly determined themselves. Furthermore, I contextualize these processes based on their interaction with the Ottoman reform project of the time.
Through this contextualization, I illustrate the procedure of state-building from below and the politicization of the public sphere in the case of the late Ottoman Crete. Finally, I illustrated that the last quarter of the 19th century should not be perceived merely as an additional step towards the predetermined unification of Crete with the Greek Kingdom, but rather as a period of intense social and political mobilization.