Anti-Hellenism (in Greek: Ανθελληνισμός) is hostility toward the Greek people, culture and country. However,when compared with apparently similar phenomena (like Anti-Semitism it turns out to be, at least in its recent form, more of a deliberate misperception or a sort of underground conspiracy theory than an actual hate movement.

Contents

1 Origins of Antihellenism 1.1 Geopolitical reasons 1.2 International Mass Media 1.3 The "true" antihellenists 2 Does antihellenism really exist? 2.1 Detractors 2.2 Demonization 2.3 The "Έθνος Ανάδελφον" concept 3 What is, ultimately, "anti-hellenic"? 4 Consequences of antihellenism 4.1 Dedicated press 5 See also

Origins of Antihellenism

Geopolitical reasons

Antihellenism apparently seems to lack a racial and cultural basis (unlike anti-Semitism) and it appears to be mostly based on geopolitically oriented reasons as well as diplomatic and strategic interests closely related with the modern state of Greece. These facts by themselves don't imply a direct hate towards Greeks as a nation, but rather reflect the various diplomatic tensions of the moment. The Cyprus Dispute and the Annan Plan for Cyprus are two good examples of something that could be labelled "Antihellenic" by a part of Greeks.

International Mass Media

Also, unlike other kinds of racial or ethnic prejudice, it is not officially based on a concrete ideology (like Mein Kampf against the Jews), nor is it present in an organized form or society (such as Ku Klux Klan against black people), but it usually manifests itself under the form of a negative image promoted by a part of the international mass media, especially by some (mainly Anglo-Saxon) journalists.

Those television reporters, journalists and newspapers are in fact frequently accused of negative propaganda against the modern state of Greece. The Olympic games of Athens 2004 are a prime example, to the point that many of those newspapers and TVs officially apologized to Greece for having been too critical of Greece and its competence in organising the games, or for having called Greece a "terrorist lair".

It must be pointed out however, that many of those broadcasts and articles are usually the consequences of precise governmental or para-governmental decisions, and thus fall into the field of diplomacy. Comparison with the Freedom fries issue between France and the USA helps getting an idea about the true nature of these publications.

The "true" antihellenists

There are however a few declaredly anti-greek organizations,such as the Turkish Grey Wolves and some extremist Balkans based political parties. The goal of these organizations is declaredly the territorial possession of Greece and of the whole of Cyprus,with no particular racial or cultural ideology behind them,other than the desire to rid Greece and Cyprus of Greeks, apparently not interested in promoting a worldwide "Greek Holocaust".

Does antihellenism really exist?

Antihellenism itself, as a concept,is very debated in Greece itself. Some Greek people firmly believe that there is an underground international conspiracy aimed at destroying Greek language and culture, but apparently not the Greeks themselves.

Detractors

Its detractors (most of them Greek) on the other hand claim that antihellenism is merely a handy excuse and an excellent scapegoat for labelling and demonizing all actual or imaginary "enemies" of the Greek nation or even for justifying insuccesses and failures from national down to personal level, and that in reality Greece and Greeks are regarded as no worse or better than any other democratic country and its citizens. These same people also feel that some facts are exagerrated by the mass media and by some politicians for their own purposes.

Demonization

Usually, it's the Greeks themselves who label something as "Anti-Hellenic", or feel that there is some major anti-Greek conspiracy behind anything and anyone merely opposing Greek interests in any area. In this case, conveniently labelling something "antihellenic" is in fact a demonization.

The "Έθνος Ανάδελφον" concept

Halfway between popular wisdom and historical reality lies the concept of the "Έθνος Ανάδελφον", which translated literally means "Brotherless nation", probably referred to the historical, linguistical and cultural isolation of Greece from the other nations, but also to the large number of wars and conquerors attracted by Greece, due its always important Geostrategical position in the Mediterranean Sea.

Detractors of antihellenism argue however that "Έθνος ανάδελφον" also means a "Nation whose people are not brotherly to one another", and the first ones to blame for part of the problems faced by Greece are the Greeks themselves and their attitude towards one another, traditionally considered to be characterized by a lack of mutual trust.

What is, ultimately, "anti-hellenic"?

Although there is no clear definition of what makes something or someone "anti-hellenic", there are some possible clues:

• Territorial claims and disputes connected with the modern state of Greece: Maybe the most realistic of all antihellenic fears,since there are actually Turkish and other Balkanic extremist groups (such as the Grey Wolves) who claim part or all of Greece's land and sea.
• Publications and articles which criticize Greece and Greeks to various extent. These include:
  • Traveller guides,especially if they conjure the existence of terrorism or contain too much negative warnings and stereotypes. It is not a pleasant thing in general when country A issues negative traveller guides for country B, but one doesn't see why Greece and Greeks should feel particularly offended by a similar fact.
  • Newspaper articles,especially if they write about the Cyprus dispute, the Olympic Games, make undocumented connections with international terrorism or merely report actual negative statistics and promote stereotyped ideas about Greece. Also, any piece of article merely showing interest or positively promoting one of Greeces "enemies" is promptly labelled as antihellenic.

Consequences of antihellenism

Dedicated press

Perceptions of antihellenism in Greece are also fueled by (and fuel in turn) a flourishing market of publications promoting national mysticism. The arguments treated by those publications are:

• The supposed absolute superiority of the Greek culture and language.
• The importance of Greek soil, olive oil etc. in creating Greek culture and thought.
• The existence of several international conspiracies aimed at destroying the Greek culture and language by any means.
• Sometimes ideas about an eternal rivalry with the Jews for the place of the "chosen race" are promoted too, which can dwell into Anti-Semitism.

See also

• Antisemitism
• Conspiracy theory
• National mysticism
• Epsilon Team