Consequences of Denial: The Armenian Genocide

"Consequences of Denial" seeks to provide some awareness and understanding of the horrendous tragedy of the Armenian genocide. This book illuminates the little known fact that over two million innocent Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman Empire between 1894 and 1922; a genocide that has been, and continues to be, denied by successive Turkish governments. In this book, the author demonstrates the need not only for remembrance, but first and foremost for the acknowledgement of genocides, from government level downwards. Only by taking adequate steps at personal, group, national and international levels to acknowledge such massacres, and the trauma they create, can humankind attempt to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. By documenting the psychological effects of the forgotten Armenian genocide and by linking these effects to crossgenerational trauma and processes of response and denial, this book aims to shed light from a psychoanalytic perspective on an insufficiently researched aspect of this genocide.

Table of Contents:
Foreword: A Fortuitous Meeting , Foreword: Recognizing the Armenian Genocide , Preface , Introduction , The Armenian Genocide and Trauma , History of the Armenian genocide to the present day , Silence, denial, and trauma , Trauma in relation to historical genocide , The Importance of Understanding the Psychological Response to Genocidal Violence , Psychoanalytic perspectives on the causes and effects of genocide , Twentieth-century genocide: brief examples from history , Psychological consequences for those who survived , Anger with no end: the tragic consequences of denial , Conclusion: moving towards healing and recovery , Maps of 1915 Armenian genocide , United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide , Article 301 , Previous, recent, and current involvement in the question of the Armenian genocide by world leaders, significant figures, and the media , Turkish quotes about the Armenian genocide

About the Author :
Aida Alayarian

Review :
"This book is about the vital importance of historical research and the public recognition of traumatic social events. [Aida] Alayarian convincingly shows how the denial of the Armenian genocide denies the victims the opportunity to make sense of their experience, and how easily witness accounts can be dismissed as 'rumours' or 'allegations' without the legal and intellectual framework of societal efforts of remembrance and restitution. The unbearable pain of genocide has been followed by suspicion and disbelief, and Turkish society is unable to come to terms with its past, and therefore with itself."--Dr. Sigrid Rausing "This book is an important contribution to the discourse of truth and I hope it will help to bring forward that day of recognition of the historical truth of the Armenian genocide so that a process of healing may begin between the peoples of Armenia and Turkey--and thereby engender a greater hope for the world that truth can and will prevail."--Baroness Caroline Cox "Consequences of Denial is one of the very few books highlighting the long- term psychological plight of forgotten human atrocities and genocide. The importance of the book comes not only as a reminder of the forgotten human tragedies and genocide, it also sheds light on the new role of mental health professionals in understanding the psychological consequences of mass trauma and victimization. It also provides directions to proactive measures in preventing human sufferings. The book gives noticeable lessons on how to pave the road towards peace and reconciliation: acknowledging human atrocities, apology for survivors and their families, and recognition of others are steps towards forgiveness and reconciliation."--Abdel Hamid Afana, PhD, President