The United States and the Armenian Genocide History, Memory, Politics

"The seminal text on the US relationship with the Armenian Genocide. Through a meticulous historical analysis of events and primary and secondary resources, combined with semistructured interviews with decision makers and lobbyists, Zarifian walks readers through more than a century of history, a history that ultimately culminated with formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States. . . . A must-read book for scholars and students interested in the Armenian Genocide, historical cases of genocide, genocide denial, the intersection of US foreign and domestic policies, and the role of civil society in pursuing change." (Peace & Change) "Zarifian's book effectively explains why the past and present treatment of the issue by politicians, political interest groups, and citizens remains an important strand of US foreign policy in a time when genocide remains a very real threat." (Diplomatic History) "Amazingly well written. . . . Zarifian's scholarship is sound and impressively comprehensive. His engagement with a diversity of sources, from historical archives and news media to interviews with contemporary actors is truly astounding and indeed exemplary. His methodology could be used as a model in the exercise of linking together various data sources for advanced-level history students. . . . A most beneficial reading for scholars of genocide and (the politics of) collective memory across various disciplines and fields." (H-Diplo) "Julien Zarifian's study sheds light on much more than the question of the Armenian Genocide: it sheds light on an American political class and a federal administration that have long been susceptible to outside pressure from pro-Turkish lobbies, revealing a political culture that is relatively untouched by ethical questions. The author's methodical dismantling of this process is an essential tool for understanding the inner workings of the American state." - Raymond H. Kévorkian (author of The Armenian Genocide: A Complete History) "Julien Zarifian has produced a masterful account of the domestic and international "politicking" that led to the decades-long delay in America's recognizing as genocide the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, perpetrated during the era of the First World War. His skillful assessment of the cross-cutting pressures that were brought to bear upon Washington decisionmakers from both foreign and domestic sources establishes The United States and the Armenian Genocide as the definitive work on the topic." - David G. Haglund (professor of Political Studies, Queen's University (Canada))