Turkish Scholar Taner Akçam Lectures on New Book

Toronto — Turkish scholar Dr. Taner Akçam will be speaking about his new book, From Empire to Republic: Turkish Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide in several cities in the coming weeks.

Dr. Akçam is one of the first Turkish academics to acknowledge and discuss openly the genocide of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government in 1915. He is one of a handful of scholars who are challenging their homeland's insistent declarations that the organized slaughter of Armenians did not occur; and he is the first Turkish specialist to use the word "genocide" publicly in this context. His new book represents the first scholarly attempt to both document the Genocide and understand that genocide from a perpetrator, rather than victim perspective, and to contextualize fully the events of 1915 within Turkey's political history, and western political policies towards the region more generally.

Taner Akçam was born in northeastern Turkey and became interested in politics at an early age. He was active in Turkish politics until he fled to Germany as a political refugee, where he received a Ph.D. from Hanover University. Dr. Akçam is the author of numerous books and articles in English, German and Turkish. Through his research, writings, and lectures, he has worked tirelessly and courageously to help the Turkish people come to terms with their history and to bridge the gap between Turks and Armenians. He is currently Visiting Associate Professor of History at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The schedule of his lectures is as follows:

Thursday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.
Boston-Cambridge. Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA. Starr Auditorium. Parking is available at the Harvard Square Parking Garage at the corner of Eliot and JFK streets or at the Charles Hotel Parking Garage. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, the Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies at Harvard, and the Harvard Armenian Society. For more information contact the Zoryan Institute at 617-497-6713 or NAASR at 617-489-1610.

Friday, May 21, 6:30 p.m.
Montreal. McGill University, Moot Court, New Chancellor Day Hall Law Faculty, 3644 Peel. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Zoryan Institute of Canada and the Armenian Students' Associations of Concordia, McGill, and the University of Montreal. For more information contact the Zoryan Institute of Canada, 416-250-9807.

Saturday May 22, 6:30 p.m.
Montreal. Bolsahay Cultural Association, 2855 Victor Dore. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Zoryan Institute of Canada, the Bolsahay Cultural Association and the Armenian General Benevolent Union of Montreal. For more information contact the Zoryan Institute of Canada, 416-250-9807.

Sunday, May 23, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto. Glendon College, 2275 Bayview Ave. (at Lawrence), Dining Hall. Parking is free. This lecture is organized by the Zoryan Institute of Canada, with the participation of the Armenian Association of Toronto, the Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto, the Armenian General Benevolent Union of Toronto, the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada, the Armenian National Committee of Toronto, the Armenian Students’ Associations of Ryerson University, University of Toronto and York University, the Bolsahay Cultural Association, the Canadian Armenian Business Council, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, St. Gregory’s Armenian Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Social Democrat Henchak Party, and other organizations. For more information contact the Zoryan Institute of Canada, 416-250-9807.

Friday, June 4, 6:30 p.m.
New York-Manhattan. City University of New York Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, Elebash Recital Hall. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation and the Middle East & Middle
Eastern American Center of CUNY. For more information contact the Zoryan Institute of Canada, 416-250-9807.

Admission to all lectures is free. A question-and-answer period will follow the lecture. Copies of Dr. Akçam's new book, From Empire to Republic will be on sale and available for signing.