Genocide: - DIIS

Mehmet Necef
This fear of contributing to Western orientalism is so strong that while
he uses the term deportation (tehcir) in the Turkish text, he uses the term
“exodus” in the English text. The difference between the two concepts is
apparent: While deportation is something enforced on a group, exodus is
something the group decides to do, for example, the exodus of the Jews
from Egypt.
As long as the Turks had to debate amongst themselves without the interference
of foreign scholars, they, with a few exceptions, seemed to be
content with a state-controlled and fi nanced, and thus very low level of
scholarship on the subject. 8 However, the globalisation of the Armenian
question forced Turkish intellectuals to rethink the issue and present more
reasoned views which can be taken seriously by foreign scholars or politicians.
Especially the works of historian Taner Akcam on the question and
his interventions in the media heightened the level of debate.
In the Turkish political debate there seem to be three taboos: the role of
the military in Turkish politics, the Kurdish issue and the Armenian question.
In recent years there has been more openness concerning the fi rst
two issues. One can with impunity publish more or less critical books
and articles and make television programmes on these issues. The Armenian
question has also been affected by this general democratisation and
weakening of “offi cially sanctioned truths” about the history and political
life of the country. The Armenian taboo is being eroded and as Akcam
has observed several scholarly conferences and symposiums on the issue
have been arranged and a number of books, trying to present the question
more objectively and less informed by the offi cially sanctioned line, have
been published. 9 If this positive tone continues Turks could fi nally come to
terms with their past.
8 For some of the exceptions see Taner Timur (1996), Osmanli Calismalari. Ankara; Taner Timur
(2000), Türkler ve Ermeniler. 1915 ve Sonrasi. Ankara; Mete Tuncay (1991), Cihat ve Tehcir.
Istanbul.
9 Taner Akcam (2000a), Ermeni tabusu aralanirken: Diayalogdan baska bir cözüm var mi? Istanbul,
p. 3.
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