The contribution of this book to Greek national identity and otherness consists of the following points:
It endeavors to provide a comprehensive presentation of the Greek national narrative, from both Korais and Paparrigopoulos and Zambelios, also referencing contemporary national historians.
It focuses attention on an issue that has not been extensively presented in Greek, the debate between foreign and Greek historians regarding whether Byzantium was Greek or not, and whether it can be considered part of Greek heritage.
It attempts a deconstruction of Paparrigopoulos’ narrative, without completely dismissing it, highlighting that as a narrative of national history, it has many positive elements compared to other national narratives/national histories in Europe.
It presents another interesting debate among Byzantinists, this time also among Greek historians, regarding the arrival of the Slavs during the Middle Ages in what was then geographic Greece.
It records the negative aspects of Greek self-identity which, in contrast to Greek national history, are more problematic due to extreme ethnocentrism and ancestor fixation.
It covers Greek otherness in relation to three neighboring nations, the Albanians, the (Slavo-)Macedonians, and the Turks, with which the relationship has been historically turbulent since World War II.
It analyzes and interprets the causes of the negative Greek stance toward these three neighbors.
It concludes with the Greek "national issues" which are in essence the product of Greek national identity, the Greek narrative, and how Greeks view otherness and the world.
