Navigating Boundaries: Border Crossing and Imperial Legacies in the Greek-Yugoslav Case

• In Event: Contested Legacies of Post-Ottoman Liberation in the Balkans

Abstract

This paper will investigate the phenomenon of border crossings in the post-Ottoman Balkans. It will delve into the case of the Greek-Serbian (subsequently Yugoslavian) borders, examining how these two nations, despite being allies, adopted distinct strategies to categorize certain activities as either smuggling or contraband, reflecting their respective interests. The analysis will encompass terrestrial border regions and the maritime domain, particularly emphasizing the port of Thessaloniki and the intricate dynamics within its "Free Zone."

Author

• Dimitrios Mitsopoulos, Columbia U