Politicising Genocide
In Turkey, coming to terms with past atrocities create more for the present
Sam Saverance
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Society
On January 19th, prominent Turkish-Armenian writer Hrant Dink was fatally shot outside his office in Istanbul by a teenage miscreant allegedly under the influence of an ultra-nationalist named Yasin Hayal. Dink had been a vocal crusader towards reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian communities, which have had a wary relationship since the birth of the country. His appeals had attracted numerous supporters throughout the country who were eager to rectify questions of the past and move on. He also attracted numerous sworn enemies among the ultra-nationalist community, including Hayal, and his life was in danger for many months up to that fateful day. Dink's death brought to the international forefront the internal strife the country has faced as a result of an event that happened during the First World War almost a hundred years ago.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Turkey was holding on to a withering hegemony, the once-powerful Ottoman Empire. Among the many ethnic groups enveloped in this state were around 2 million Armenians, who were mostly treated as second-class citizens, primarily because they were not Muslim. Wars in the late 19th century with Russia and in the Balkans had reduced the hold the Ottomans had on their territories, concurrently increasing the sense of nationalism in the Armenian community. At the same time, there was growing unrest in the Turkish community and a greater demand for an alternative to the antiquated imperial regime. The Young Turks movement took control in the years before World War I, leaving the Ottoman ruler as a mere figurehead. The Young Turks were a conglomerate of divergent political groups, including Armenians, with the common goal of reducing imperial control. After this was accomplished though, the groups split into ideological elements; some demanding liberal reforms and equality among ethnic groups, while others demanded stronger Turkish control. By the start of World War I, the latter had wrested the most influence in the empire.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Turkey was holding on to a withering hegemony, the once-powerful Ottoman Empire. Among the many ethnic groups enveloped in this state were around 2 million Armenians, who were mostly treated as second-class citizens, primarily because they were not Muslim. Wars in the late 19th century with Russia and in the Balkans had reduced the hold the Ottomans had on their territories, concurrently increasing the sense of nationalism in the Armenian community. At the same time, there was growing unrest in the Turkish community and a greater demand for an alternative to the antiquated imperial regime. The Young Turks movement took control in the years before World War I, leaving the Ottoman ruler as a mere figurehead. The Young Turks were a conglomerate of divergent political groups, including Armenians, with the common goal of reducing imperial control. After this was accomplished though, the groups split into ideological elements; some demanding liberal reforms and equality among ethnic groups, while others demanded stronger Turkish control. By the start of World War I, the latter had wrested the most influence in the empire.
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