Academic Activism and Armenian Genocide Recognition in Australia

This article draws on the author’s firsthand experience of lobbying the Australian federal government to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The article explores the history of Armenian Genocide recognition in Australia and the issues surrounding such recognition. It analyzes the geopolitical and historical issues that seem to present a barrier to the Australian federal government recognizing the Armenian Genocide, such as the specifics of Australia’s relationship with Turkey, which date back to World War I and the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. The significance of Gallipoli in Australian military history and culture and how it impacts Australian recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be examined. The article also discusses the work being done to overcome these barriers through the “Joint Justice Initiative” that the author participates in. This paper highlights how academic research and scholarship contribute to this work, situating this advocacy in the realm of academic-activism, demonstrating that academia is a crucial and active participant in activism that seeks to bring about social and political change.