User:Telex/Serbian Greek Empire

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Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Greece.

A Serbian Greek Empire is a union proposed by a minor number of Orthodox Christian and Nationalist radicals between the nations of Serbia and Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Greece. Despite this phrase, the proposed union would not necessarily have to be led by a monarch, but would be open to a government that abides modern democratic methods. The Orthodox Church would have some influence over decision making within the administration.

1 Theory of A Serbo-greek Union
2 The Contemporary Perspective
3 Reasons cited for confederation
4 Obstacles to confederation
5 Theory of a NeoByzantine
6 External links
- 6.1 Pro-union sites

[edit] Theory of A Serbo-greek Union

The idea of Serbo-Greek confederation has existed for some time. In recent years, union with Greece has been proposed under the rule of Slobodan Milošević, in February of 1992. The proposal was generally ignored by Greek officials; however, it remained a popular topic of discussion within the media. The issue was once again addressed two years later in March of 1994. However, it was proposed by a larger number of Yugoslavian political figures including Radovan Karadzic. While it failed to be ratified, the proposal is still in existance to this day. A small group of political radicals in both countries continue to support this nation. For example, Vojislav Šešelj, former leader of the Serbian Radical Party, had proposed that the two countries unite after splitting FYR Macedonia between them.

[edit] The Contemporary Perspective

While no official records as to the current public support of the concept in any of the three nations exist, informal polling done on the Internet has demonstrated some feelings in response to the subject. The poll targeted 316 people (as of October 29, 2005), who were generally of Serbian and Greek descent.

While the results may be subject to error, the polling trends indicate that a vast majority of people (approximately 75%) support some kind of cooperation between either nations. As to support of confederation, 47% of people support some form of it, while 50% seem opposed to it to varying degrees.

The flags of Serbia and Greece, united under an orthodox Christian cross. Many pro-confederation sites display this emblem.

[edit] Reasons cited for confederation

All three nations share a common religion
Modern day Serbian and Greek cultures have some similarities.
The general population of each nation sees the other as strong friends and allies, even though many may not support confederation.
The Serbs and Greeks have fought fewer wars between one another than they have between other Balkan nations.
A few famous and influential Serbs and Greeks support or have supported this idea.

A small number of fledgling organizations support such a union, believing it would finally stabilize things within all three nations, and decrease tensions in Eastern Europe. Such organizations believe that a Union of Serbia and Greece would be the uniting of those with similar beliefs, rather than different peoples with different values.

However many believe that the two states should rather make some kind of alliance, an arrangement that at present seems more feasible for a variety of reasons.

[edit] Obstacles to confederation

The significant number of cultural differences.
Membership status in the European Union. Greece is a member, while Serbia is not.
Membership status in NATO. Greece is a member, while Serbia is not.
The issue of the Republic of Macedonia needs to be resolved.
The viability of such a union.
The difference in wealth between the nations.
The degree of multiculturalism within the two nations. Around 70% of the Serbian population is Serb and other ethnic groups are recognized. It is estimated that 98% of Greece's population is Greek, but the actual number is unknown, and furthermore Greece does not officially recognize ethnic groups.
EU, NATO, and the United Nations, along with the western world, may pose objections to the creation of such a union.

While this idea is still in its spawning stage and frowned upon by much of the western world, it is growing in support throughout much of the Balkans.

[edit] Theory of a NeoByzantine

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The Serbian Greek Empire is essentially a subdivision of a greater philosophy known as Neobyzantinism, which itself stems from the collapse of the Byzantine Empire in the mid 15th century.

With the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, so too came the fall of many other regions within its sphere. The Kingdoms of Serbia, Cyprus, and Arta, to only list a few, were also swept aside by the forces of the advancing Ottoman Sultanate. With the collapse of this empire, nearly 500 years later, there came a "rebirth" of sorts to the theory of a Nea Byzantia in regions of Greece and southern Europe. A prominent example of this concept is the Greek Great Idea, also known as the Megali Idea.

Remark posted by the representatives of the Neobyzantine Movement: The Neobyzantine Movement does not exist to propose any change of boundaries, nor any kind of forced secession or extremism against any country whatsoever. The Neobyzantine Movement is not connected by any mean with the ideas nor politics of the former Yugoslav president of Slobodan Milosevic or any other war criminals or persons suspected of commiting any crime against the humanity. On the contrary, the Neobyzantine Movement has a ban on membership on any persons that were members of extreme left or right political parties, as the Statute of the Movement defines.
The Neobyzantine Movement does not share the same principles as presented in the article above, but still shares the principle of uniting all dominantly Orthodox countries together.

The following article is retrieved from the NBWS (Neobyzantine Web Site), and describe the ideals and general theory behind the Neobyzantine Movement Cultures and civilisations don't die. They could only transfer from one nation to another, synthesising different origins, but always developing something unique. Customs and art always survive. All the countries of Old Byzantine world took a part of glory of the Great Church of Constantinople. That culture developed there something wonderful. Everywhere around - in Macedonia, Thrace Palestine, Syria, Caucasus, Armenia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, FYR of Macedonia, or Russia we still can see living monuments of Byzantine culture.
For thousands of years together, these countries were apart for centuries after, too. Many armies were fighting for these territories and all of them were trying to apart nations who lived there. That was, to enslave them more easily. They achieved. Why, we ask? Well, everyone's weak who is alone.

Imagine one country - from Adriatic sea to Korea, and from Sinai desert to the North Sea.. With millions of churches all over.. With prosperity, wealth and peace,.. Faith strong as rocks in everyone. No one to enslave or torture another people in that country.. in N?? ???????? (New Byzantium). Could it happen? That is primarily the question for Orthodox. And the answer lies in the soul of Orthodox people, in their consciousness.

This Union is not just matter of cultural relations, but also a represented goal of our economical strivings. One liberal economy, one big market - it has a global potential. One government of experts, one army - that all guarantees modern and peaceful life on the Globe.