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Armenian genocide part of strategic goals of Ottoman Empire political
elite - Tajik scholar
April 26, 2013 | 02:42
Young Tajik scholar Shavkat Kasymov it is necessary once again raise
the issue of guilt and responsibility for Armenian genocide
orchestrated by the government of the Ottoman Empire.
His article `The example of the Armenian genocide and the role of the
millet system in its execution' was published in Social Identities
magazine. He is one of the winners of Tashir award on genocide studies
and Facebook `We Demand Increase of Science Funding' ahead of the
100th anniversary.
Asked why he decided to write a paper on the Armenian genocide, the
scholar of the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, U.S.) said he though
it important to honor the victims of those tragic events now that we
are approaching a centennial anniversary in 2015.
However, the key point is `once again we need to raise the issue of
guilt and responsibility, since according to many analyses, including
mine, the Armenian genocide was orchestrated by the government of the
Ottoman Empire and aimed at the elimination of the its Christian
populations, primarily the Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians.'
`The article engages with two theoretical approaches in the field of
genocide studies, and it discusses how one of these approaches is
superior to another, particularly through the lens of the case of the
Armenian genocide. One of these approaches suggests that genocide
occurs as a result of significant structural changes, such as wars,
revolutions, economic and political crises. While it is an important
contribution to Genocide Studies, this approach does not reveal the
leading driving force behind mass killing. The other approach
maintains that mass killing originates in the policies of political
elites.
My article suggests that the Armenian genocide was part of the
political and strategic goals of the political elites in the Ottoman
Empire, who sought to transform the empire into a homogenous
nation-state through the deportation and extermination of the Armenian
minority as an example of the Final Solution. The Armenian minority
was seen by the Young Turks as an obstacle to the ideology of
Pan-Turkism, which eventually led to the creation of modern Turkey. I
draw on empirical evidence, secondary sources, and theory to support
my argument,' he said in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.
The young scholar plans to write more articles on the Armenian
genocide in the future especially when he finds credible primary
materials and empirical evidence.
`However, I believe that we have to look at the Armenian genocide not
only from an historical perspective, but also from the standpoint of
Genocide Studies, in order to bring the analyses to a completely new
and higher level, and develop and implement adequate policies that
would eliminate the potential for such atrocities occurring again in
the future,' he said.
http://news.am/eng/news/150568.html
elite - Tajik scholar
April 26, 2013 | 02:42
Young Tajik scholar Shavkat Kasymov it is necessary once again raise
the issue of guilt and responsibility for Armenian genocide
orchestrated by the government of the Ottoman Empire.
His article `The example of the Armenian genocide and the role of the
millet system in its execution' was published in Social Identities
magazine. He is one of the winners of Tashir award on genocide studies
and Facebook `We Demand Increase of Science Funding' ahead of the
100th anniversary.
Asked why he decided to write a paper on the Armenian genocide, the
scholar of the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, U.S.) said he though
it important to honor the victims of those tragic events now that we
are approaching a centennial anniversary in 2015.
However, the key point is `once again we need to raise the issue of
guilt and responsibility, since according to many analyses, including
mine, the Armenian genocide was orchestrated by the government of the
Ottoman Empire and aimed at the elimination of the its Christian
populations, primarily the Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians.'
`The article engages with two theoretical approaches in the field of
genocide studies, and it discusses how one of these approaches is
superior to another, particularly through the lens of the case of the
Armenian genocide. One of these approaches suggests that genocide
occurs as a result of significant structural changes, such as wars,
revolutions, economic and political crises. While it is an important
contribution to Genocide Studies, this approach does not reveal the
leading driving force behind mass killing. The other approach
maintains that mass killing originates in the policies of political
elites.
My article suggests that the Armenian genocide was part of the
political and strategic goals of the political elites in the Ottoman
Empire, who sought to transform the empire into a homogenous
nation-state through the deportation and extermination of the Armenian
minority as an example of the Final Solution. The Armenian minority
was seen by the Young Turks as an obstacle to the ideology of
Pan-Turkism, which eventually led to the creation of modern Turkey. I
draw on empirical evidence, secondary sources, and theory to support
my argument,' he said in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.
The young scholar plans to write more articles on the Armenian
genocide in the future especially when he finds credible primary
materials and empirical evidence.
`However, I believe that we have to look at the Armenian genocide not
only from an historical perspective, but also from the standpoint of
Genocide Studies, in order to bring the analyses to a completely new
and higher level, and develop and implement adequate policies that
would eliminate the potential for such atrocities occurring again in
the future,' he said.
http://news.am/eng/news/150568.html