Aspects of non-formal organization of intra-ethnic cohabitation in Greece (with a short comparison with Romania and Turkey). The Evrites’ associations

Usually, the concept of “cohabitation” involves the existence of some groups with a significant and enough big difference between them so as tensions might appear at any time. The inter-ethnic cohabitation is one of the most familiar instances of living together phenomenon. But the concept can be used intra-ethnically too. In Greece, this latter meaning of cohabitation can be surprised also in the co-existence of innumerable cultural associations. Many of them were founded by internal (or external, but intra-ethnic) migrants, and bear names which refer to a place/ region of origin. The teaching of dance and traditions from this place are their main activities. The text displays some aspects regarding intra-ethnic cohabitation in Greece by taking into account the case of five “Evritic” associations (from the cities of Sérres, Dhráma, Kavála, Xánthi, and Komotiní). “Evrites” are actual migrants or their descendants from Évros prefecture – situated at the border with Turkey – in these cities. Comparatively, both in Romania and Turkey the situation of non-formal organization of cohabitation (through the existence of a strong NGO sector of cultural associations) is feebler. In return, a more pronounced formal organization is to be found in Romania