CSCH 3025 Genocide and Humanitarianism
The genocide of Ottoman Armenians was one of the defining events of World War I, and had a profound impact on the emergence of modern Turkey and the broader Middle East. The humanitarian crisis triggered by the genocide generated a massive relief effort organized by non-governmental organizations based in the United States and elsewhere. This course will introduce students to the history of the Armenian genocide. It will focus special attention on how the international response to this event helped lay the groundwork for humanitarian intervention and international development discourses that today provide the foundation for the work of thousands non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating throughout the "developing world." Through a close examination of the connection between the Armenian genocide and the emergence of these discourses, this course will provide students with the ability to think historically about them. In addition, this course will approach the concepts of humanitarianism and international development with a critical lens, examining how and why they have been interpreted as everything from well-intentioned efforts at international goodwill to forms of cultural and economic imperialism.
LA