Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Doctoral Dissertation in progress

"Press in the service of Revolution: The multiple functions of the Greek newspapers 1821-1828"

Commencement date: June 7, 2022

Abstract

The main focus of this thesis is to examine the multifaceted role of the Greek Press during the Greek War of Independence, exploring its function as both a primary historical source, a testimony to how Greek society was shaped based on the rapid changes it underwent during the Revolution; and an active shaper of public discourse at the time, providing a platform for the public. The Greek Press emerged simultaneously with the attempt to establish an independent administrative structure during the Revolution before the formation of a recognised independent state, while also being integrated into an international network of newspapers. Its multiple dimensions can be traced on political, social, and (inter)cultural levels that set the axes of analysis for this research, attempting to position the Greek experience within its international and European context, reflecting the major changes of the long 19th century. Building upon and enriching the existing literature, this research aims to analyze the Greek Revolutionary Press in a way that stems from the systematisation of the newspapers’ research. It is hoped that through this prism, aspects of the revolutionary phenomenon will be illuminated, simultaneously contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the Greek Revolution in the broader subject of the Age of Revolutions and of the complex interplay between media and revolutionary movements.