The Armenian question in Turkey’s domestic and international policy

Abstract

Even if the Armenian question does not have the importance of the Kurdish question for Turkey’s domestic policy, it plays a central role for Turkey’s self-understanding. What lies at the center is not primarily the everyday discrimination of Armenians which emanates from the population. Rather, it is the combat against those who want to designate the widespread deaths of Armenians in the course of the alleged resettlement of Armenians during World War I as genocide. It has only been since the massive opposition by governments and parliaments of numerous countries that Turkey has initiated research into genocide at all. Together with the discrimination of religious minorities, this has become a stumbling block for entry into the EU.