Lausanne Population Exchange Migration and the Habitation of Turkish Refugees

Abstract

The exchange of Turkish and Greek population, which became definite upon an agreement signed between Turkey and Greece at the Lausanne Conference, caused crucial consequences. This period, signifying a compulsory removal of people from their homeland, was a main issue for the Turkish Republic. At the end of ten-year process of transforming minorities in Turkey and Greece into immigrants, parties, through exchange, achieved religious identity integrity. However, considering the qualifications and the value of immigrants, it is a reality that Turkey suffered significant losses. Whereas Greeks migrating to Greece from Turkey were a tradesman urban population, Turks migrating from Greece to Turkey were a farmer peasant population.