"Staying away from politics, not foreseeing militarism": The case of corps of Greek scouts in Armistice Istanbul, 1918-1923

Abstract

The core of this study deals with the reflection and attribution of nineteenth century values of modernity, Enlightenment and nation-building, to childhood and adolescence, with the aim of bringing up proper citizens of the nation. Within this ground of analyzing the relation between youth and mainstream politics, this study is focused on the raison dJ8tre of a particular youth organization, the Corps of Greek Scouts, and their activities during the post World War I years, where Istanbul was experiencing Allied occupation. i This thesis aims to contribute to the historiography of this particular period by I analyzing the mentioned youth organization within the scope of its European counterparts flourishing in the second decade of the twentieth century. The Corps of Greek Scouts of Constantinople, established with the signing of the Armistice, had been spread along and become popular among the Rum population, most of which was closely attached to Greek nationalism and Venizelism. The organic relations between the High Commission of Greece, the Corps of Greek Scouts and the local elites of the Rum community created an atmosphere of building the 'Hellenic' identity which was attributed to the 'unredeemed' Greeks of Istanbul. Thus, the Corps of Greek Scouts acted as a pedagogical organization educating and mobilizing youth, with the aim of preparing a disciplined, obedient, physically strong and fit, self-sufficient, ready, civilized and masculine citizen-soldiers of the future. This indoctrination became visible for the 'occupied' city with thepevformativity of the whole movement. This is how it was reflected as well in the official Turkish historiography, where the non-muslim populations were named as 'traitors'.