‘We did commit these crimes’: Post-Ottoman solidarities, contested places and Kurdish apology for the Armenian Genocide on Web 2.0 | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s): Huw Halstead

Year of publication: 2021

Keywords: Post-Ottoman solidarities, Kurdish apology, Armenian genocide, Digital technology, Transcultural dialogue

Methodology/Sample: Content analysis/_

Reference: Halstead, H. (2021). ‘We did commit these crimes’: Post-Ottoman solidarities, contested places and Kurdish apology for the Armenian Genocide on Web 2.0. Memory Studies, 14(3), 634-649. https://doi.org/10.1177/17506980211010933

Abstract

Web 2.0 facilitates the articulation of transcultural solidarities between Armenian, Assyrian, Greek and Kurdish social media users. This has led to a growing trend for some Kurdish users to apologise for Kurdish complicity in Ottoman crimes, most notably the Armenian Genocide. These post-Ottoman solidarities layer different times and places, creating digital palimpsests where fantasies about place can be constructed, but fantasies that remain connected to enduring and historical place identities and concerns about future territorial borders. These multitemporal montages can foster reconciliation between erstwhile antagonists, lead to mutual recognition of shared victimhood, and perhaps even form the basis for a more inclusive sense of shared (lost) place. Yet, these solidarities can also incubate nationalist irredentism and othering. Moreover, they frequently founder on the very notions of territoriality and exclusive place identity that they sometimes seem ostensibly to transcend.

> Summary

Web 2.0 enables transcultural solidarities among Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, and Kurdish users, fostering apologies for Kurdish complicity in the Armenian Genocide .
Digital palimpsests layer historical narratives, creating opportunities for mutual recognition of shared victimhood .
These solidarities can promote reconciliation but may also lead to nationalist irredentism and reinforce exclusive identities .
Apologies are often met with skepticism, complicating the formation of new solidarities .

> Problem statement

The paper discusses the complexities of post-Ottoman solidarities and their impact on historical narratives and identities.
It highlights the tension between digital solidarity and the reality of territorial disputes.
The issue of collective apologies and the challenge of consensus among communities is also examined.
The paper addresses how digital platforms can both foster reconciliation and incite nationalist sentiments.
It emphasizes the need for genuine engagement with others’ histories to avoid superficial dialogues.

> Methods used

Data were collected from public sections of Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube using keyword searches from 2006 to 2019.
No scraping tools were employed to avoid indiscriminate data capture.
User anonymity was protected by not reproducing usernames or identifiable quotations.
Composite examples were created to illustrate points without tracing back to original users.
The paper utilized a technique of invention and fabrication to protect privacy in digital research.
The analysis involved examining user-generated content that layered different times and places.
The study focused on transcultural solidarities among various ethnic groups through digital narratives.

> Practical implications

The paper highlights the potential for digital connectivity to create new ways of connecting with places and histories, impacting physical space behavior.
It suggests that Web 2.0 can foster transcultural solidarities, potentially leading to reconciliation among previously antagonistic groups.
The findings indicate that digital narratives can challenge traditional notions of territoriality and exclusive identities, promoting a more inclusive understanding of place.
The research underscores the importance of recognizing how digital interactions shape historical narratives, which can influence future behaviors and perceptions.
It warns that while digital platforms can promote dialogue, they may also reinforce nationalist sentiments and exclusivity.