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State Identity, Continuity, and Responsibility : The Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Genocide

Avedian, Vahagn LU (2012) In European Journal of International Law 23(3). p.797-820
Abstract
By studying the continuity between the Ottoman Empire and its succeeding Turkish Republic, this article aims to address one crucial aspect of the denial of the Armenian genocide by the Turkish state, namely the issue of state responsibility. There are psychological barriers in Turkey which have largely suppressed the memories of possible wrongdoings during World War I and the ensuing ‘Independence War’. However, the barrier that is created by the issue of state responsibility is identified here as the fundamental obstacle for genocide recognition by the Turkish state. This article aims to apply some of the existing legal principles and theories of international law in order to test their applicability to the two Turkish states and the... (More)
By studying the continuity between the Ottoman Empire and its succeeding Turkish Republic, this article aims to address one crucial aspect of the denial of the Armenian genocide by the Turkish state, namely the issue of state responsibility. There are psychological barriers in Turkey which have largely suppressed the memories of possible wrongdoings during World War I and the ensuing ‘Independence War’. However, the barrier that is created by the issue of state responsibility is identified here as the fundamental obstacle for genocide recognition by the Turkish state. This article aims to apply some of the existing legal principles and theories of international law in order to test their applicability to the two Turkish states and the issue of internationally wrongful acts committed during World War I and the ensuing years. In addition to the Turkish Republic bearing the identity of the Ottoman Empire, this article suggests that the Republic not only failed to stop doing the wrongful acts of its predecessor, but it also continued the very internationally wrongful acts committed by the Young Turk government. Thus, the insurgent National Movement, which later became the Republic, made itself responsible for not only its own wrongful acts but also those of its predecessor, including the act of genocide committed in 1915–1916. The issue of possible liability has ever since the creation of the Republic formed the denialist policy which is Turkey’s to this day. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
State identity, continuity, responsibility, internationally wrongful acts, ottoman, turkey, republic, armenian genocide
in
European Journal of International Law
volume
23
issue
3
pages
797 - 820
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000310153600011
  • scopus:84867757443
ISSN
1464-3596
DOI
10.1093/ejil/chs056
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0b35cddc-4a25-47d8-b12d-68636775849a (old id 3129860)
alternative location
http://ejil.oxfordjournals.org/content/23/3/797.full.pdf?keytype=ref&ijkey=4FZRuLROIocgqw8
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:01:27
date last changed
2022-04-04 01:38:51
@article{0b35cddc-4a25-47d8-b12d-68636775849a,
  abstract     = {{By studying the continuity between the Ottoman Empire and its succeeding Turkish Republic, this article aims to address one crucial aspect of the denial of the Armenian genocide by the Turkish state, namely the issue of state responsibility. There are psychological barriers in Turkey which have largely suppressed the memories of possible wrongdoings during World War I and the ensuing ‘Independence War’. However, the barrier that is created by the issue of state responsibility is identified here as the fundamental obstacle for genocide recognition by the Turkish state. This article aims to apply some of the existing legal principles and theories of international law in order to test their applicability to the two Turkish states and the issue of internationally wrongful acts committed during World War I and the ensuing years. In addition to the Turkish Republic bearing the identity of the Ottoman Empire, this article suggests that the Republic not only failed to stop doing the wrongful acts of its predecessor, but it also continued the very internationally wrongful acts committed by the Young Turk government. Thus, the insurgent National Movement, which later became the Republic, made itself responsible for not only its own wrongful acts but also those of its predecessor, including the act of genocide committed in 1915–1916. The issue of possible liability has ever since the creation of the Republic formed the denialist policy which is Turkey’s to this day.}},
  author       = {{Avedian, Vahagn}},
  issn         = {{1464-3596}},
  keywords     = {{State identity; continuity; responsibility; internationally wrongful acts; ottoman; turkey; republic; armenian genocide}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{797--820}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{European Journal of International Law}},
  title        = {{State Identity, Continuity, and Responsibility : The Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Genocide}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chs056}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/ejil/chs056}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}