“Parallel Lives? Greeks and Armenians from the millets to the nation-states”

The book *Parallel Lives? Greeks and Armenians from the millets to the nation-states* is the first comprehensive attempt to describe, understand, and analyze Greco-Armenian relations. Although the centuries-long ties between Greeks and Armenians are widely known, the book focuses on a critical historical period that begins with the first major crisis of the Eastern Question (1876–1878), continues with the escalation of the great crises both peoples suffered in the early 20th century, and reaches the present day.

The research, while referring to the shared and largely tragic fate of the Greek and Armenian inhabitants of Asia Minor, also focuses on information and details unknown to many regarding Greco-Armenian relations and the various expressions of Greco-Armenian cooperation at interstate and other levels. More specifically, extensive reference is made to the relations between Greek and Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire, the Greek and Armenian communities of the Diaspora, Armenian and Greek political, armed, or other organizations, as well as the relations between Armenians and Cypriot Hellenism. A large part of the book also focuses on the stance of the Greek state toward the Armenian Question and the Armenians. The role played by the Greco-Armenian community in the relations between the two peoples and the two states is also examined in detail. References to problematic periods are of course not omitted, nor are mentions of occasional competitive relations.

The main goal of the book is to fill the significant gap that unfortunately exists in the bibliography regarding Greco-Armenian relations and to contribute to a better understanding of the history and course of Greco-Armenian relations over the last 150 years—years that have been critical for both nations. It also attempts to answer the question posed by its title itself: Are the lives of the two peoples parallel, or do our shared experiences in Asia Minor and the Armenian Highlands mislead us into believing they are?

The book articulates three key contributions to the scholarly field: (1) it introduces a comparative historical framework that places Greek and Armenian historical trajectories in direct dialogue; (2) it utilizes and synthesizes archival and oral sources that have been insufficiently used; and (3) it reflects on critical concepts such as identity, historical memory, diplomacy, and intercommunal relations, from the Ottoman millet system to contemporary forms of interstate cooperation.

Despite the fact that studies and monographs on Greco-Armenian relations have been published from time to time, the relevant bibliography often remains fragmented, focusing on limited time periods or isolated themes. *Parallel Lives? Greeks and Armenians from the millets to the nation-states* constitutes the first comprehensive attempt at the systematic documentation and analysis of Greco-Armenian relations from the founding of the Greek state to the present day, offering a holistic account of their political, social, diplomatic, and military dimensions.

Of particular significance is the fact that this work is the first to examine Greco-Armenian relations during the period from the dissolution of the Soviet Union up to 2024, shedding light on issues that have until now remained scarcely explored. Among these are Greece’s stance during the two Nagorno-Karabakh wars (1991–1994 and 2020) and the development of Greco-Armenian military cooperation.

The book also addresses important gaps in the literature concerning the role of the Greco-Armenian community in the National Resistance (1941–1944), as well as the stance of the Greek and Cypriot states—and their societies—toward the activities of Armenian armed organizations that carried out attacks against Turkish targets during the 1980s. The research underpinning the work reveals, for the first time, primary material and unpublished information that substantially enrich the understanding of the long and multifaceted Greco-Armenian relationship.

Overall, the book offers an interdisciplinary and historically grounded contribution that highlights the complexity of Greco-Armenian relations and provides a new analytical framework for their study.

Parallel Lives? Greeks and Armenians from the millets to the nation-states is recommended for anyone seeking a substantial, well-documented, and contemporary understanding of Greco-Armenian relations. Academics, researchers, and students of modern European history, Balkan and Middle Eastern studies, or international relations will find in the book a valuable tool that combines primary sources, comparative analysis, and new research findings.

At the same time, it serves as a useful read for diplomats, political analysts, and those engaged with issues of minorities, the Diaspora, and regional security in Southeastern Europe and the South Caucasus. Finally, it is also addressed to members of Greek and Armenian communities around the world, as well as to any reader interested in the deeper historical and political roots of a relationship that remains relevant and decisive to this day.

The book is organized into five major sections that trace the evolution of Greco-Armenian relations from the late 19th century to the present, highlighting the historical context, the crises, and the moments of cooperation that shaped the trajectory of the two peoples.

The first section examines the formation of relations between Greeks and Armenians in the second half of the 19th century, focusing on the impact of the Eastern Question, Greece’s shifting stance on the Armenian Question, and their cooperation during periods of tension.

The second section covers the dramatic period from 1900 to 1920, connecting key events—such as the Macedonian Question, the Young Turk Revolution, the Balkan Wars, and the Armenian Genocide—to bilateral relations, while also shedding light on the establishment of the First Armenian Republic and its joint diplomatic efforts with Greece.

The third section moves into the Soviet era (1921–1991), examining the settlement of Armenian refugees in Greece, the role of the community in the National Resistance, the revival of Greco-Armenian cooperation in the context of the Cyprus issue, and the Greek stance toward the activities of Armenian organizations.

The fourth section focuses on interstate relations between Greece and Armenia after 1991, analyzing diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation, as well as Greece’s position during the two Nagorno-Karabakh wars.

The fifth and final section explores the close relations between Armenians and Cypriot Hellenism, offering a comprehensive picture of the Greece–Armenia–Cyprus triangle.

With this structure, the book offers a coherent and multilayered narrative that covers 150 years of shared history, combining archival research, oral testimonies, and new analytical tools.

The writing of the book emerged from a series of commemorative milestones as well as from the author’s long-standing personal and scholarly engagement with Armenian issues and the history of Greco-Armenian relations. The bicentennial of the Greek Revolution of 1821, the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Greece and Armenia, and the centenary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe created a dense historical backdrop that highlighted the need for a comprehensive study of the shared trajectory of the two peoples. In this environment, the idea matured and took shape with the support of the journal Armenika, which for 25 years has been pioneering the study of Greco-Armenian issues, contributing decisively to the formation of the book Parallel Lives? Greeks and Armenians from the millets to the nation-states.