Dehumanization of Armenian Genocide
Victor Mardikian
Mr. Reese 4A
Honors World History
13 May 2013
Armenian Genocide 1915-1923
After their defeat in the Balkan War, the Ottomans lost not only their European territories, but also their pride and self-importance. To regain their pride in nationalism, they felt it necessary to impose their culture, language and especially, their religion on the minority, the Armenians. The Armenians were designated to a second-class citizenship, had to abide inequalities, and endure special hardships. As nationalism increased in Europe and the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians became more isolated as a Christian minority. A Pan-Turkic nationalistic movement emerged that wanted to assimilate or annihilate the Armenians. As the Armenians sought independence and better treatment, the Turkish government instead treated the Armenians more and more severely, progressively leading to their genocide. In addition, the Turks wanted to acquire the wealth and prosperity of the Armenians for the Muslims and the Turkish government. The Central Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), the controlling party of the government, implemented the eradication of the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire, resulting in two and half million deaths. Dehumanization in the Armenian genocide is the result of ethnocentrism, objectification of Armenians, and moral disengagement by the Central Committee of Union and Progress.
The importance of nationalism to the Ottomans brought about the dissolution of the multi religion/ethnic Empire and transformed it into a Turkish nation-state based on a mono-religion/ethnic empire. Enver Pasha, a member of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), predicted the possibility of the collapse of the nation and claimed that the “non Turkish elements within the country had shown themselves to be opposed to the empire’s continued existence” (Akçam xiv). In order to preserve the state, measures had to be taken against them. “Non Turkish elements” were “an internal
Mr. Reese 4A
Honors World History
13 May 2013
Armenian Genocide 1915-1923
After their defeat in the Balkan War, the Ottomans lost not only their European territories, but also their pride and self-importance. To regain their pride in nationalism, they felt it necessary to impose their culture, language and especially, their religion on the minority, the Armenians. The Armenians were designated to a second-class citizenship, had to abide inequalities, and endure special hardships. As nationalism increased in Europe and the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians became more isolated as a Christian minority. A Pan-Turkic nationalistic movement emerged that wanted to assimilate or annihilate the Armenians. As the Armenians sought independence and better treatment, the Turkish government instead treated the Armenians more and more severely, progressively leading to their genocide. In addition, the Turks wanted to acquire the wealth and prosperity of the Armenians for the Muslims and the Turkish government. The Central Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), the controlling party of the government, implemented the eradication of the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire, resulting in two and half million deaths. Dehumanization in the Armenian genocide is the result of ethnocentrism, objectification of Armenians, and moral disengagement by the Central Committee of Union and Progress.
The importance of nationalism to the Ottomans brought about the dissolution of the multi religion/ethnic Empire and transformed it into a Turkish nation-state based on a mono-religion/ethnic empire. Enver Pasha, a member of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), predicted the possibility of the collapse of the nation and claimed that the “non Turkish elements within the country had shown themselves to be opposed to the empire’s continued existence” (Akçam xiv). In order to preserve the state, measures had to be taken against them. “Non Turkish elements” were “an internal
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