After a Century of Injustice: Moving Toward Turkish Recognition of the Armenian Genocide

Authors

Ashley Kalagian Blunt, University of WinnipegFollow

Abstract

Nearly one hundred years have passed since the Armenian genocide, which prefaced and in some ways encouraged the Holocaust – yet the Turkish government continues to deny the genocide and uses political manipulation to prevent its recognition by others. The denial’s history has been one of collaborative repression, but in recent years Turkish voices have joined with Armenians’ in the struggle for recognition; collaborative struggle, particularly in recognition of shared history, may represent the best chance to pressure Turkey to federally recognize the genocide. This paper explores the machinations of the denial and its significance in the twenty-first century, as well as the consequences of the Armenian genocide for its victims and their descendants. As a global perspective drawn from Armenian diaspora studies demonstrates, the genocide remains a significant part of a global consciousness of pan-Armenian identity. This identity remains trapped as a victim of the genocide, just as the denial entraps Turkish identity.

Author Bio(s)

Ashley Kalagian Blunt completed her Master of Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney, and currently teaches for the University of Winnipeg. She has lived and worked in Canada, South Korea, Peru, Mexico and Australia. Her research interests include genocide, diaspora, intercultural communication, and cultural identity. Email: a.blunt@uwinnipeg.ca

Keywords

Armenian genocide, Christian populations, genocide and denial, Ottoman Empire, Russia, Turkish government

Publication Date

5-2014

DOI

10.46743/1082-7307/2014.1003

Recommended Citation

Blunt, Ashley Kalagian (2014) "After a Century of Injustice: Moving Toward Turkish Recognition of the Armenian Genocide," Peace and Conflict Studies: Vol. 21: No. 1, Article 4.
DOI: 10.46743/1082-7307/2014.1003
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs/vol21/iss1/4