Protest and Proto-Nationalism: Explaining Popular Dissent

Abstract

The Greeks of the Dodecanese found many aspects of Italian rule impressive, even seductive, but they never accepted the legitimacy of the foreigner’s presence. Their opposition was made quite clear in a series of plebiscites between 1912 and 1923, while anti-Italian sentiments were sometimes voiced during social protests which erupted intermittently during the following period. These social protests merit close study because they bring many of the social and cultural features of the relationship between dominators and dominated into stark relief. They are particularly helpful in understanding the latter, who were mobilised into action by threats to their welfare and values, and who expressed their concerns openly during the heat of protest. Social protests therefore reflect the mental universe of ordinary people in the past, and oral history is particularly useful here because the resulting source material is often nuanced and evocative.