Denial of Violence

Denial of Violence examines two centuries of state violence against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey through extensive analysis of Turkish memoirs and historical documents. The work spans from 1789 to 2009, with particular focus on the Armenian genocide and its subsequent denial in Turkish society. Fatma Müge Göçek conducted extensive research over 12 years, analyzing 356 memoirs by 307 authors to understand how Turkish elites rationalized and justified violence against Armenians. Her systematic approach included reading all available Turkish-language memoirs published after 1928 that contained relevant historical accounts. The book traces the evolution of collective violence and its denial through four distinct periods: Ottoman, Young Turk, Early Republican, and Late Republican. Through careful examination of primary sources, Göçek documents how violence became institutionalized and denial became embedded in national identity. This scholarly work contributes to understanding how historical memory and national identity intersect with the acknowledgment or denial of past violence. The book raises fundamental questions about collective responsibility and the role of truth-telling in national reconciliation.

Readers praise the book's extensive research and documentation of collective violence in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. Social scientists and historians highlight its methodological contributions in analyzing state violence through sociological frameworks. What readers liked: - Comprehensive archival sources and testimonies - Clear connections between past and present violence - Detailed examination of denial mechanisms - Focus on marginalized voices and perspectives What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Complex theoretical sections - Length and repetition in some chapters - Limited discussion of certain time periods Ratings: Goodreads: 4.47/5 (15 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (2 ratings) One academic reviewer noted: "The empirical documentation is impressive but the theoretical framework could be more developed." Another reader commented: "Essential for understanding Turkish-Armenian relations, though parts are quite technical and slow-going." No mainstream review sites (NYT, Guardian, etc.) have published reviews of this academic work.

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🔍 The author spent 12 years conducting research for this book, analyzing over 300 memoirs written between 1789 and 2009 📚 Göçek was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, and later became a professor at the University of Michigan, bringing a unique dual perspective to her work 🗓️ The book covers violence and denial across three distinct periods: Ottoman (1789-1907), Young Turk (1908-1938), and Republican (1939-2009) 🎓 This work was awarded the Mary Douglas Prize for Best Book in Cultural Sociology by the American Sociological Association 📖 The author's methodology included analyzing personal narratives from both Turkish and Armenian sources, making it one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind on this topic