In July, I had the privilege of presenting at the International Association of Genocide Scholars' twelfth meeting in Yerevan, Armenia. The conference’s theme of comparative
analysis of twentieth century genocides brought experts from around the world
to Armenia’s capital city for five days of presentations, learning, and
networking. More than 180 attendees, representing more than two dozen
countries, shared their research and insight into many of the twentieth century’s
most infamous atrocities.
The conference began on Wednesday, July 8th with
a welcome from Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to attendees. In his address,
President Sargsyan discussed the legacy of the Armenian Genocide, not only for
the Armenian people, but all of humanity. He also spoke about moving forward, highlighted
by his announcement of the creation of a new biannual conference sponsored by
the Armenian Republic that will discuss the lasting effects of genocide and how
the global community can overcome episodes of violence. A full transcript of
President Sargsyan’s address can be found on the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute’s website.
The conference kicked off Thursday morning with more than 20
breakout sessions exploring themes like prevention, intergenerational trauma, perpetrator
justice, and gender and sexuality. I presented research I did this past spring,
comparing themes of nationalism in pre-genocide late Ottoman and early American
politics. University of Minnesota alumna and current Ohio State sociology professor
Dr. Hollie Brehm presented her research analyzing rates of violence at a
community level during the Rwandan Genocide.
My favorite session was the cultural genocide breakout. The
presentations primarily focused on the continuing destruction and appropriation
of Khachkars, ornate stone crosses, and Armenian churches that are scattered
across modern Turkey. The presenters brought different and insightful
perspectives to the session; an art historian talked about the effect the
destruction from an artistic perspective and an Armenian PhD student shared her
research from the viewpoint of the Armenian people. There was a great conversation
that followed, discussing the limits of the legal definition of genocide versus
Raphael Lemkin’s original ideas. The session was moderated by Dr. Adam Muller
of the University of Manitoba. Dr.
Muller will be visiting the University this fall to discuss his virtual
museum project which sheds light on the residential schools for Canada’s First
Nations people.
On Thursday evening, we were given a tour of the renovated
Armenian Genocide Museum and Tsitsernakaberd, Armenia’s official memorial site.
Visiting the museum had a tremendous effect on me. It was a reminder of the
human toll of the first genocide of the twentieth century, something I had only
experienced through books and documentaries. The museum recently opened its
expanded exhibit with new photographs, artifacts, and testimonials in time for
the commemorative events marking the 100th anniversary of the
genocide. The tour was led by Dr. Hayk Demoyan, the director of the museum and
organizer of the conference.
The conference came to an end on Sunday with the unveiling
of a stamp by the IAGS executive committee and the Armenian Postal Service,
commemorating the conference. Sunday was also Vardavar, the Armenian water
festival in which kids toss water on unsuspecting passersby. The soakings made
for a refreshing end to an incredible, and hot, conference in Yerevan.
Created in 1994, the International Association of Genocide
Scholars is one of the world’s largest groups dedicated to gaining a greater
understanding of episodes of genocide and mass atrocities. In 2001, the
University of Minnesota hosted the conference. IAGS’ next conference will be in
July 2017 in Phnom Penh at the newly opened Sleuk Rith Institute which is Cambodia’s
permanent research
center dedicated to the Cambodian Genocide.
Joe Eggers is a M.A. graduate student and Graduate Assistant with the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
