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From Pak to Pasok: Anti-Dictatorship Resistance in Toronto and the Metapolitefsi

presented by A/Prof Sakis Gekas

  • When: – 9:00 pm ( Add to your Calendar... )
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  • Where: Online (YouTubeFacebook)
  • Entry: Free

Event Details

Greeks in Toronto formed grass-root resistance against the dictatorship immediately after April 21, 1967 and called it "Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Greece". This form of resistance, much more North-American and indeed Canadian-focused, contrasted in structure and political organization with the "Panhellenic Liberation Movement" (PAK) that Andreas Papandreou brought to Toronto in 1969. The talk will feature some of the key moments of the anti-dictatorship struggle and its manifestations in the public sphere, in the media and in contrast to Greek institutions (the Community, the Church) that directly or indirectly supported the dictatorship regime. The legacy of the anti-dictatorship struggle in the metapolitefsican be seen in the "homecoming" of Andreas Papandreou to Toronto as Prime Minister in 1983. The paper is based on historical material from the York University HHF Greek Canadian Archives.

About A/Prof Sakis Gekas

Sakis gekas

Sakis Gekas is Associate Professor and the HHF (Hellenic Heritage Foundation) Chair in Modern Greek History at York University. He has published on economic and social history, British colonialism, migration and diaspora, modern Greek and Mediterranean history. His publications include: Xenocracy: State, Class and Colonialism in the Ionian Islands, 1815-1864 (Berghan, 2016); Ξενοκρατία (Εκδόσεις Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου, 2021); Απόμαχοι. Οι αγωνιστές της Επανάστασης του 1821 στο Οθωνικό Κράτος (“Veterans. The fighters of the 1821 Revolution”), Athens 2021; “Hellenes of Toronto: Proud of Canadianism”. Commemorating the 1821 Revolution in Canada, 1920s-2021". in Maria Kaliambou (ed.). H Επανάσταση του 1821 και οι Έλληνες της Αμερικής. Ασίνη, Αθήνα 2023.

How to Participate

This is an online-only event, so please join us on YouTube, or Facebook

You don't need an account with either of these services to just watch the event, but you do need one if you want to participate in the Live Q&A.

At the end of the lecturer's presentation, we ask our viewers to submit their written questions through the comment or chat function of Facebook or YouTube (you'll need to have an account with that service to be allowed to comment).

We then select and submit a number of your questions to our guest.

We look forward to your insightful participation.

Sponsors

During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice.

You too can donate for one or more seminars and (optionally) let your name or brand be known as a patron of culture to our members, visitors and followers, as well as the broader artistic and cultural community of Melbourne. Please email: info@greekcommunity.com.au or call 03 9662 2722.

We thank the following corporate sponsors:
Delphi Accounting, Symposiarch Wines and the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria

About Greek History and Culture Seminars 2025

This event is part of the series Greek History and Culture Seminars 2025.

The Greek Community of Melbourne hosts a wide range of events, from intimate gatherings to large functions, and celebrates cultural diversity with vibrant festivals, performances, and exhibitions.

Greek History and Culture Seminars 2025 will run between: Thursday, 06 March 2025 and Thursday, 25 September 2025

See all Greek History and Culture Seminars 2025 published events.

  • LANGUAGE English
  • CATEGORY Education
  • EVENT SERIES Seminars > Greek History and Culture Seminars 2025
  • SERIES DATES Thursday, 06/03/2025 – Thursday, 25/09/2025
  • PRESENTED BY The Greek Community of Melbourne
  • FEATURING A/Prof Sakis Gekas
  • M.C. Nick Dallas
  • MAJOR DONORS Delphi Accounting, Symposiarch Wines and the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria
  • PLACE Online (YouTubeFacebook)