The Armenian Diaspora and the Need for the “Other”

Year 2011, Volume: 5 Issue: 9, 93 - 107, 01.01.2011

Bahar Senem Çevik-ersaydı

Abstract

Ermeni diasporası dünyadaki en dağınık topluluklardan biridir. Bu nüfus dağınıklığının aksine diaspora içinde yaşadığı ülkelerde güçlü bir etnik kimlik olarak varlığını sürdürmektedir. Bu durum, diasporanın psikolojik olarak kötü imgeleri yansıttığı bir “öteki” düşman Türk imajının varlığına bağlanabilir. Çünkü, milletlerin “düşman” ihtiyacı o grubu birarada tutmakta ve kimlik özelliklerini yaşatmaktadır. Ermeni diasporası bağlamında “öteki” olgusu bir ihtiyaçtan öte varlık sebebi olarak mağdur kimliğini meşrulaştırıcı özelliğe sahiptir. Düşman ihtiyacı ve öteki yardımı ile oluşturulan toplumsal bellek bir nesilden ötekine aktarılmakta, bu aktarım sırasında da şekil değiştirebilmektedir. Özellikle düşmanlık duyguları ile yetişen genç nesiller Türk-Ermeni ilişkilerinin geleceği açısından datehlike arz etmektedir. 

Keywords

Ermeni Diasporası, Kimlik, Politik Psikoloji, Savunma Mekanizmaları 

Ermeni Diasporasında ‘Öteki’ne İhtiyaç

Abstract

The Armenian diaspora is one of the most dispersed communities in the world. Contrary to the dispersed population the Armenian diaspora continues to thrive as a strong ethnic identity. This could be linked to the presence of an enemy “Turk” image in which all bad images are projected. This is due to the need to have “enemies” for sustaining the identity and in-group cohesion. In the context of the Armenian diaspora the concept of “other” has become a reason for existence that legitimizes the victim identity rather than a simple need. The collective memory that is created by the need for an enemy and “other” is then intergenerationally transmitted while evolving to a different story. Youth, who are raised with feelings of enmity can pose a threat for the future of the Turkish-Armenian relations. 

Keywords

Armenian Diaspora, İdentity, Political Psychology, Defense Mechanisms 

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