Scientific conference “Macedonia in the Hellenic Parliament, 1897–1989”

The Foundation of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA) and the Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarism and Democracy, on the occasion of the publication of the results of their two-year joint research project in the form of a collective volume, have the honor to invite you to the scientific conference:

“Macedonia in the Hellenic Parliament, 1897–1989”
on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
to be held at the Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Room 212, 2nd floor)

Macedonia frequently occupied a central place in Greek public discourse and political life during the 20th century. As a region with distinctive characteristics and challenges, it often demanded a different — if not special — approach from the national center, rendering its case unique and exceptional, requiring specific handling and careful management. This well-understood “peculiarity” of the region is reflected in the parliamentary speeches and interventions throughout the past century.

The debate surrounding Macedonia was conducted through various publications and the press, but its core was the Hellenic Parliament. Through the speeches of members of parliament and ministers — especially those who, after 1912, represented electoral districts of Macedonia — the changing significance of Macedonia as a symbol is revealed, as well as the ways in which its image and problems as a Greek province were managed, depending on the specific political needs and rhetoric of each period.

With these considerations in mind, the two Foundations, with the participation of distinguished historians, proceeded with the publication of the collective volume “Macedonia in the Hellenic Parliament, 1897–1989”, edited by Professor Vasilis Gounaris (Department of History and Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and Professor Ioannis Stefanidis (Professor of Diplomatic History, Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). The culmination of this research effort is the conference, which will take place at the Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Room 212), on Monday, October 13, 2025.

Speakers at the conference:

• Konstantinos Diogos, PhD in History, AUTh / Secondary Education Teacher

• Konstantinos Doukakis, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Politics and International Studies, Neapolis University Pafos

• Vasilis Kollaros, PhD, Panteion University / Secondary Education Teacher

• Dimitris Livanios, Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism, AUTh

• Eleftheria Manta, Assistant Professor, Department of History and Archaeology, AUTh

• Vasiliki Bouranta, PhD in Political Science, AUTh / Lecturer, Department of Political Science, AUTh and Hellenic Open University

• Andreas Bouroutis, PhD in Political Science, AUTh / Lecturer, Hellenic Open University / Visiting Professor, Michigan State University

• Konstantinos Papanikolaou, PhD in History, AUTh / Research Associate, IMMA

The conference will conclude with a round-table discussion moderated by Professor Evanthis Hatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarism and Democracy and Professor of History, Department of History and Archaeology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), with the participation of:

• Konstantinos Gioulekas, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Macedonia–Thrace Sector / MP for Thessaloniki A, New Democracy

• Theodoros Karaoglou, former Deputy Minister of the Interior, Macedonia–Thrace Sector / MP for Thessaloniki B, New Democracy

• Aikaterini Notopoulou, former Deputy Minister of the Interior, Macedonia–Thrace Sector / MP for Thessaloniki A, SYRIZA

• Georgios Paschalidis, former Minister of Macedonia–Thrace

Greetings will be addressed by:

• Panagiotis Glavinis, Dean, Faculty of Law, AUTh

• Nikolaos Margaropoulos, President, IMMA

• Evanthis Hatzivassiliou, Secretary General, Hellenic Parliament Foundation

* Certificates of attendance will be provided.