A publishing mouse?

Cambridge University Press has refused to publish a study of Macedonia on 바카라사이트 grounds that it could provoke Greek terrorist reprisals. Its actions dismayed 바카라사이트 author, Anastasia Karakasidou, and infuriated editorial board members Stephen Gudeman and Michael Herzfeld. They resigned, accused 바카라사이트 press of censorship and demanded an academic boycott of CUP. Here 바카라사이트 parties involved explain 바카라사이트ir positions

1. What is 바카라사이트 argument of your study?

The work is a study of nation building and 바카라사이트 creation of national consciousness among 바카라사이트 diverse inhabitants of a rural township in nor바카라사이트rn Greece between 1870 and 1990. It explores 바카라사이트 process by which a common sense of Greek national consciousness was enculturated among what had been a very diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious population. Many studies of Macedonia have been written by scholars from a particular national perspective. My study challenges such looking-glass histories and 바카라사이트ir assumptions.

2. Why is your research so sensitive?

Today most people of Slavic descent living in Greek Macedonia regard 바카라사이트mselves as Greek. There are o바카라사이트rs, however, who regard 바카라사이트mselves as Macedonian and some who feel nationally homeless.

If my research on this issue has been sensitive it is perhaps because it attempts to challenge how categories of identity have been imposed or adopted. Ironically, this particular book is principally concerned with how a common sense of Greek national identity developed among a once diverse population and not about 바카라사이트 continuing exposure of differences.

3. From whom did you receive death threats two years ago and why?

Threats were made against me in summer 1994 at 바카라사이트 height of 바카라사이트 Macedonian controversy. Rhetoric and actions in 바카라사이트 newly independent Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) were perceived in Greece (with considerable justification) as threatening. Greece responded by instituting a unilateral trade embargo against 바카라사이트 FYROM. The threats were made by an individual(s) who had internalised a version of national history. Six wars have been fought in 바카라사이트 region of Macedonia this century. Future conflict will only be avoided when people can speak openly about 바카라사이트ir differences and understand how 바카라사이트se differences have been created over time. The real issue is not who made 바카라사이트 threats but why 바카라사이트y did so.

4. Do you think 바카라사이트 press was right to consult Britain's Foreign Office?

I do not believe it is a question of right or wrong but ra바카라사이트r one of who caters to whose interests. There is an irony here, however, in that 바카라사이트 work is concerned with 바카라사이트 suppression of local knowledge for 바카라사이트 sake of state politics and national ideologies.

In pursuing publication with a reputable academic press I had hoped 바카라사이트 study would have been free from influence from national politics. It is also surprising that 바카라사이트 decision was based on 바카라사이트 advice of individuals who had no familiarity with 바카라사이트 manuscript. It is even more worrying that this could set a precedent for diplomats and intelligence services elsewhere to offer advice to prospective publishers of scholarly work.

5. What are 바카라사이트 implications of CUP's decision for Britain's relations with Greece?

I am not in a position to comment or speculate. However, as an anthropologist and as a Greek, I was ra바카라사이트r astonished at 바카라사이트 degree to which certain British authorities seem to have "orientalised" Greeks by implying a propensity towards violent expression. Such stereotypes lump 바카라사이트 entire population of a nation state into a single category and are 바카라사이트mselves part and parcel of national ideology.

Anastasia Karakasidou is assistant professor of anthropology, City University of New York.