Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan Co-Authors Book on Turkish History

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YEREVAN, Armenia — American University of Armenia (AUA) Political Science and International Affairs program Associate Professor and Assistant to the AUA President on Academic Affairs Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, together with colleagues from Yerevan State University and the Institute of Oriental Studies, has authored an Armenian-language book on the last 100 years of Turkish history titled Թուրքիայի պատմություն. հարյուրամյա հանրապետության քաղաքական ուրվագծերը 1923-2023 թթ. (English: The History of Turkey: The Political Contours of the Hundred-Year-Old Republic, 1923-2023). 

The concept of the book was born in 2011, when several historians of Turkey in Armenia convened with an understanding of the need for a jointly authored book covering the history of Turkey. Until that time, Armenian universities were using textbooks produced in the 1980s by Soviet Turkologists that were replete with Marxist-Leninist frameworks and interpretations of Turkish history, with no mention of the Armenian Genocide or similar pivotal events. To address this gap, the group of scholars decided to publish a short book on the history of Turkey in 2014, while continuing to work on an enriched version throughout the next decade. Students were quick to embrace the 2014 volume, and, as the first comprehensive book on the history of Turkey, it soon became a go-to resource for those studying the subject. 

Dr. Ter-Matevosyan contributed three chapters to this 2024 publication, mostly covering Turkish history from the 1980s to 2019. He focused on this period because, in his opinion, the confrontation between political Islam and Kemalism laid the foundation for the current state of affairs in Turkey. Inevitably, the last 30 years of Turkish history are also interlinked with that of Azerbaijan, another factor that is covered in his section. “Our aim with this book is to provide the most up-to-date knowledge and analytical frameworks not only to our students, but also to a larger audience that seeks to better understand the history of Turkey, its political history, economy, social transformations, and other topics along these lines,” he said. “The book is a response to the growing demand for unpacking Turkey in a way that is analytically and academically sound, leaving aside emotions and biases that would shadow the true meaning of this undertaking.”

The landscape of Turkology in Armenia has transformed dramatically over the last 10-15 years, becoming more visible and much more impactful nationally. Indeed, however, asserts Dr. Ter-Matevosyan, there is still much to be done. He maintains that the scholarly research produced locally must be shared with a wider audience, which is why plans are already in the works for a Russian translation of the book and, potentially, an English one as well.

An official launch was held on April 22 at the Congress Hotel in Yerevan, during which copies of the book were shared with individuals and scholars who have played a foundational role in documenting the Republic of Armenia’s history. Several AUA graduate students have also received copies of the book.

The Political Science and International Affairs program of the American University of Armenia (AUA) equips students with advanced analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and communication skills through the study of political science and international affairs, emphasizing local and global perspectives and practical applications of theory. The program provides world-class teaching and research, producing graduates who can best contribute to the development of the nation.