The Economics Of Genocide In An Ottoman Province: Unraveling the Dark History

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Genocide is a haunting term that stirs emotions and grabs attention due to its brutal nature and devastating impact. When discussing the economics behind such an atrocity, it may seem odd to merge a topic that allegedly focuses on cold calculations with an event marked by inhumanity. However, delving into the economic aspects of genocide can provide a unique perspective on understanding the motivations, rationale, and underlying factors that contributed to these horrific episodes.

The Dark Shadows of the Ottoman Province:

One of the most infamous cases of genocide is the Armenian Genocide, which took place within the Ottoman Empire during World War I. This mass extermination, carried out by the Young Turk government, targeted the Armenian population and resulted in the deaths of over one million individuals.

The Armenians of Aintab: The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province

by Ümit Kurt (Kindle Edition)

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Print length	:	388 pages

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While political and ethnic reasons are commonly discussed, exploring the economics at play during this period can provide deeper insights into the motivations behind the genocide. Understanding the economic factors can help unravel the complex web that allowed this horrific event to occur.

An Unholy Alliance: Politics, Economics, and Genocide:

The economic aspects of the Armenian Genocide are deeply intertwined with political motivations. The Young Turk government, facing internal stability issues and external threats, sought to consolidate power within the region. Economic factors played a significant role in shaping their decisions and actions.

At the time, the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire was well-established and had attained significant wealth in various sectors of the economy. From trading to agriculture, the Armenians' economic prosperity generated envy and resentment within the ruling elite.

The confiscation of Armenian properties and assets under the pretext of wartime necessities fueled the economic motives behind the genocide. The government systematically targeted Armenian-owned businesses, homes, and land, seizing them for the benefit of non-Armenian populations and the state itself. This calculated confiscation not only served to weaken the Armenians economically but also allowed the state to gain control over valuable resources.

The Economics of Supply and Demand:

To comprehend how economic factors influenced the decision to commit genocide, one must analyze the concept of supply and demand within the Ottoman Empire. As the empire faced upheaval and scarcity during World War I, there was a need to control resources and ensure they were distributed efficiently.

The Armenian population, being predominantly agrarian, played a crucial role in the agricultural sector. By eliminating the Armenian workforce, the Young Turk government aimed to gain control over the fertile lands of the Ottoman province. This move would provide the state with the ability to control agricultural production and maximize economic gains.

The deportation of Armenians to barren regions or their complete extermination became a means to exploit the land and resources previously held by the Armenian population. The combination of economic ambitions and the perceived threat posed by the Armenians justified the implementation of genocidal policies.

An Economy Built on Blood:

The Armenian Genocide not only had a devastating impact on human lives but also on the economic landscape of the Ottoman Empire. With the extermination of a significant portion of the Armenian population, the economy suffered a severe blow.

Many Armenian-owned businesses, which were the backbone of the economy, ceased to exist. The loss of skilled labor and entrepreneurs disrupted market dynamics and caused a decline in economic productivity. This, in turn, had adverse effects on overall economic growth and stability.

The economic consequences of the genocide lingered long after the physical violence ceased. The loss of a skilled and prosperous workforce hindered the recovery and development of the region for years to come.

Legacy and Lessons:

The economics of genocide in the Ottoman Province shed light on the dark side of human rationality. It serves as a reminder that economic factors, when combined with political ambitions and ethnic tensions, can lead to the most horrific crimes against humanity.

As we reflect on the Armenian Genocide and its economic dimensions, it becomes crucial to draw lessons from history. By understanding the economic motivations that contributed to this atrocity, we can work towards preventing similar events in the future.

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The economics of genocide in an Ottoman province unravels the disturbing reality behind one of the darkest periods of human history. It allows us to comprehend the intricate web of motivations and interests that facilitated the systematic targeting of the Armenian population.

By delving into the economic factors at play, we gain a clearer understanding of how economies can become entangled in the politics of power and oppression. The lessons learned from unravelling this dark history can help guide our actions today, ensuring that we never repeat the mistakes of the past.

The Armenians of Aintab: The Economics of Genocide in an Ottoman Province

by Ümit Kurt (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	22964 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	388 pages

FREE

A Turk’s discovery that Armenians once thrived in his hometown leads to a groundbreaking investigation into the local dynamics of genocide.

Ümit Kurt, born and raised in Gaziantep, Turkey, was astonished to learn that his hometown once had a large and active Armenian community. The Armenian presence in Aintab, the city’s name during the Ottoman period, had not only been destroyed—it had been replaced. To every appearance, Gaziantep was a typical Turkish city.

Kurt digs into the details of the Armenian dispossession that produced the homogeneously Turkish city in which he grew up. In particular, he examines the population that gained from ethnic cleansing. Records of land confiscation and population transfer demonstrate just how much new wealth became available when the prosperous Armenians—who were active in manufacturing, agricultural production, and trade—were ejected. Although the official rationale for the removal of the Armenians was that the group posed a threat of rebellion, Kurt shows that the prospect of material gain was a key motivator of support for the Armenian genocide among the local Muslim gentry and the Turkish public. Those who benefited most—provincial elites, wealthy landowners, state officials, and merchants who accumulated Armenian capital—in turn financed the nationalist movement that brought the modern Turkish republic into being. The economic elite of Aintab was thus reconstituted along both ethnic and political lines.

The Armenians of Aintab draws on primary sources from Armenian, Ottoman, Turkish, British, and French archives, as well as memoirs, personal papers, oral accounts, and newly discovered property-liquidation records. Together they provide an invaluable account of genocide at ground level.