The Armenian Genocide: Myth or Reality?

This work of nonfiction delves into the historical context of the Armenian Genocide to examine the nature of the events that occurred in the Ottoman Empire shortly after the dawn of the 20th century. The main purpose of this study is to present the issue in question-that is, the Armenian Genocide-under new prospects, using a different approach in the analysis of the events and factual material related to the Great Crime, with an emphasis on the sociopolitical situation in the Ottoman Empire until World War I as well as the leading sentiments among Young Turk circles with regard to the Armenian Question. At the same time, detailed scrutiny was applied in determining the Armenian sociological profile, with respect to Armenians’ status as a subjugated minority and in relation to their aspirations for self-determination and administrative autonomy. The quest has always been to establish a link between the misconduct of the Turkish government-its social, military, and ideological justification under the light of the ultranationalistic and geopolitical concepts of the Ittihadist movement-and the Nazi regime, with respective historical data. This parallel was widely used as a juxtaposition of similar situations to establish a pattern of precedence and continuity of this historical phenomenon of mass offense against humanity and collective guilt. This voluminous work starts with a circumstantial preface-an observation of the matter of the Genocide, as applicable to the Armenian reality and its impact on the Armenian nation; the methodology of the events and quarry used; and counterpoise of the obsolete perception of the thesis that bygones are bygones to the idea of continuous pursuit of the matter on a scientific basis and in conjunction with the historical veracity.