By Gerard Libaridian

This volume reviews Armenian politics and political thinking from the mid-19th century to the present, and the evolution of Armenians from peoplehood to statehood. It will be of interest to students of Armenian history, independence movements, the dissolution of the Soviet empire, and foreign relations.

Written by a key governmental advisor in the early years of Armenian independence, this book analyzes the internal dynamics of the revolutionary movement, the Genocide, the Armenian Diaspora, Armenia's independence, and the relationship of these developments to process in the Ottoman/Turkish, Russian, and Western States.

Starting with an overview of Armenian history from mid-19th century to the 1970s, this book proceeds to explore the dynamics that led up to and shaped the modern republic. The book then analyzes the ideologies adopted by the Armenian revolutionary movement in the late 19th century Ottoman Empire that had earlier absorbed historic Western Armenia.

Libaridian examines the causes of the rise of political parties and a guerrilla movement and mutations in their strategies. He also describes the tensions within the Armenian community in the face of increasing impoverishment and Ottoman repression.

Next, Libaridian focuses on the ideology of the Young Turks, who were responsible for the World War I Genocide, and then offers a new analysis of the causes of the tragedy. The author describes the complexities of dealing with the history of relations between Armenians and Kurds and Armenians and Turks. He explores mutual perceptions and the politics of recognition of the Genocide.

Libaridian concludes with an overview of Armenia and Armenians during the past two decades, including the rebirth of independent Armenia.

Gerard Libaridian is currently the Alex Manoogian Visiting Professor of Modern Armenian History at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, and was co-founder and director of the Zoryan Institute in Cambridge from 1982 to 1990. He was advisor, then senior advisor, or foreign and security policy to former President of Armenian Levon Ter-Petrossian from 1991 to 1997, and was first deputy minister of foreign affairs from 1993 to 1994.

327 pages, hard cover

ISBN# 0765802058