Identity and the Armenian Genocide

<p>The context of the Armenian Genocide was one of shifting internal and external identities for both the Ottoman Turks and Armenians. This paper explores the interplay of these shifting identities through the nineteenth century up to the Genocide during World War I. Both were undergoing an identity crisis that culminated during World War I when both sides' nationalist identities reached ascendancy at the same time. This had disastrous consequences for the Armenians. Beginning in the nineteenth century Turkish self perception began to shift from an Ottoman identity based on religious division to a nationalist identity based on ethnic and linguistic homogeny. The shift was driven by the decline of the Empire and Great Power intervention. For the Armenians identity shifted from semi-autonomous millet whose interests were best served as subordinates to Ottoman Muslims to a nationalist movement based on their own ethnic and social characteristics.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>