Xenocracy : State, Class, and Colonialism in the Ionian Islands, 1815-1864

Of the many European territorial reconfigurations that followed the wars of the early nineteenth century, the Ionian State remains among the least understood. __Xenocracy__ offers a much-needed account of the region during its half-century as a Protectorate of Great Britain—a period that embodied all of the contradictions of British colonialism. A middle class of merchants, lawyers and state officials embraced and promoted a liberal modernization project. Yet despite the improvements experienced by many Ionians, the deterioration of state finances led to divisions along class lines and presented a significant threat to social stability. As author Sakis Gekas shows, the ordeal engendered dependency upon and ambivalence toward Western Europe, anticipating the “neocolonial” condition with which the Greek nation struggles even today. Of the many European territorial reconfigurations that followed the wars of the early nineteenth century, the Ionian State remains among the least understood. Xenocracy offers a much-needed account of the region during its half-century as a Protectorate of Great Britain – a period that embodied all of the contradictions of British colonialism. A middle class of merchants, lawyers and state officials embraced and promoted a liberal modernization project. Yet despite the improvements experienced by many Ionians, the deterioration of state finances led to divisions along class lines and presented a significant threat to social stability. Sakis Gekas shows that the impasse engendered de- pendency upon and ambivalence toward Western Europe, anticipating the ‘neocolonial'condition with which the Greek nation struggles even today. "Of the many European territorial reconfigurations to result from the Congress of Vienna, the Ionian State remains among the least understood. Xenocracy offers a much-needed account of the region during the ensuing half-century of oversight by Great Britain--a period that embodied all of the contradictions of British imperial expansion. Administrators deliberately pursued liberal reforms and fostered the growth of a middle class that was instrumental in building the colonial state. However, Ionian finances deteriorated and fissures appeared along class lines, presenting a significant threat to social stability. As author Sakis Gekas shows, the ordeal fueled an ambivalence toward Western Europe, anticipating the 'neocolonial' condition with which the Greek nation struggles even today"--From publisher's website Table of Contents Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 The First Greek State and the Origins of Colonial Governmentality Chapter 2 Building the Colonial State Chapter 3 Law, Colonialism and State Formation Chapter 4 Colonial Knowledge and the Making of Ionian Governmentality Chapter 5 ‘A True and Hateful Monopoly’ Merchants and the State Chapter 6 State Finances and the Cost of Protection Chapter 7 Building a Modern State: Public Works and Public Spaces Chapter 8 ‘Progress’ State Policies for Ionian Development Chapter 9 Poverty, the State and the Middle Class Chapter 10 The Literati and the Liberali: The Making of the Ionian Bourgeoisie Conclusion. 1864: The End of Colonial Rule? Bibliography Index