Conclusion

Throughout the region of what was once the Ottoman Empire, the rise of nationalisms has led to homogenisation and minoritisation processes: the construction of ethnic and national differences led to violence; forced migrations; oppression towards “minorities”; conflicts over territory, shared space, and borders; and changed demographics of the region. Within this violent context, I aimed to look at a place, Burgaz island, and its people, Burgaz islanders, who have not only enjoyed living together for centuries but also managed tensions and conflicts, showed resistance and resilience to the nation’s homogenisation processes through different acts of solidarity and an articulation of collective Burgaz identity based on embodiment and valuing of its diversity. The book depicted the evolving social landscape of Burgaz within a homogenising context. While the island’s diversity has been subject to demographic changes with those who has been leaving and the newly arriving inhabitants, the conviviality on the island has functioned as a resilience and solidarity mechanism against public and state violence during various crises, such as the 1955 pogrom, staged coup and economic crises.