The Impact of Economic and Demographic Changes in the City of Athens during the Inter-war Period (1922-1940)

Anna Ntonou Efstratiadi, Tom Nielsen, Panos Dragonas

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the relation between the economic, political and social integration of migrants and refugees, the re-organization of the state, the legislative modernization and the economic policy during the interwar period in Greece. In 1922 Greece, a state of 5 million inhabitants received a wave of refugees, the Greeks of Diaspora from Asia minor, of such a scale (1.5 millions) that it overturned every population balance in the country. In this context Athens rapid urbanization created economic, social and governance challenges while simultaneously strained city’s infrastructure. The key question of the research is in what different ways and procedures a city can be transformed under emergency conditions, such as that of the massive inflow of refugees and immigrants. The paper interprets and works with historical analysis, focusing on policies, economic structures, planning policies and the actual physical urban transformation of Athens, combining methods from architecture and economics. It examines how the new urban structure of Athens adjusted in order to redress social, economic and urban imbalances. Based on comparative analysis of Athens urban resilience we can identify concepts that will be used to begin to understand case studies of other cities in the modern era.
Original languageEnglish
Publication dateJul 2016
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2016
Event17th International Planning History Society Conference: HISTORY URBANISM RESILIENCE - TU Delft, Delft, Netherlands
Duration: 17 Jul 201621 Jul 2016
Conference number: 17

Conference

Conference17th International Planning History Society Conference
Number17
LocationTU Delft
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityDelft
Period17/07/201621/07/2016

Keywords

  • political economy
  • planning
  • urban history

Artistic research

  • No

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