Pontic greeks from asia minor and the soviet union: Problems of integration in modern greece

Abstract

In the 1920s approximately 400, 000 Pontic Greeks took refuge in Greece from Asia Minor and the Soviet Union. The overwhelming majority of them were from Asia Minor. This migration has continued until the present day, with large waves in 1937-1939, 1965-1967 and from 1987 until now. This paper presents the population, locations and first settlement conditions of these refugees, the refugee element in their Pontian identity and their economic and social integration into society in Greece. It also presents the integration problems of Pontian migrants from the Soviet Union from 1965 until now which, though similar, were of lesser extent and intensity. Their endeavour to be incorporated into a society of the same ethnic group was no easier than for other refugee groups. The manner of integration and the cultural, economic and ideological relations of the group to this society and the authorities affected the refugees, their children and grandchildren. © 1991 Oxford University Press.