In the Shadow of Prohibition and Nation-Making: Greek Smugglers and Shifts in Early Twentieth‑Century Drug Trafficking
During the interwar period, several popular culture products—ranging from French-language comics to English-language novels and films—portrayed Greek characters as villains involved in smuggling operations. This portrayal may have been linked to the increase in drug smuggling activities following th...
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| Veröffentlicht in: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/bchmc, |
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| 1. Verfasser: | |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Sprache: | Anglais |
| Veröffentlicht: |
Bulletin de correspondance hellénique moderne et contemporain
2026
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| Online Zugang: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Zusammenfassung: | During the interwar period, several popular culture products—ranging from French-language comics to English-language novels and films—portrayed Greek characters as villains involved in smuggling operations. This portrayal may have been linked to the increase in drug smuggling activities following the implementation of prohibitionist drug policies after World War I and the active involvement of Greek nationals in this lucrative trade, as various sources indicate. This article examines specific cases to illustrate the operational dynamics of these individuals and their adaptability to changing local, regional, and international conditions, particularly in response to intensified drug prohibition enforcement. It argues that, much like legitimate traders, drug traffickers demonstrated remarkable agility in adapting their operations to meet market demands and navigate regulatory challenges. Although these individuals were not constrained by nationality—allowing them to remain receptive to new markets and products based on available information—nationality nonetheless played an increasingly important role as new nation-states emerged in the eastern Mediterranean. It signified an association with a particular state formation and influenced the responses of authorities, ultimately shaping smugglers’ strategies in light of differential legal statuses under the capitulatory regime. |
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