Tuesday, October 14, 2014

An Interview with Prof. Donald Quataert on Academic Freedom, the Armenian Issue and Turkish Studies


By Tugrul Keskin

Assistant Professor of International and Middle Eastern Studies
Portland State University
I interviewed Dr. Donald Quataert, a historian at Binghamton University – State University of New York, on academic freedom, the Armenian Issue and Turkish Studies. Dr. Quataert was a chairperson of the Board of Governors at the Institute of Turkish Studies and he resigned from this position in 2006 as a result of controversial book review, ‘the Massacres of Ottoman Armenians and the Writing of Ottoman History,’ published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary History in 2006. According to some sources, such as the articles published in the Inside Higher Education by Scott Jaschik on July 1 2008[1], and Huffington Post by Harut Sassounian on June 3, 2008[2], Nabi Sensoy, Turkish ambassador in Washington DC implied that Dr. Donald Quataert should consider resigning from his position. This incident should deeply concern us as academicians who value free speech; therefore, my interview aims to explore the controversy that fueled his resignation. At the center of this debate over free speech is whether political actors should be allowed to interfere with academic research in the name of national interests. I have received similar types of threats and I was warned not to write critically of the Turkish government’s policies by two Turkish government officials in Washington DC; therefore, I am inclined to pay more attention to this subject. Even tough, I strongly disagree with using the term ‘Armenian Genocide;’ however, we must ensure that political actors are not manipulating academic discussions. Free speech should be protected whether we agree or not.  In short, as commonly attributed to Voltaire, I strongly agree with following quotation: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” (originated in “Friends of Voltaire”, 1906, by S.G. Tallentyre).
Donald Quataert is an Ottoman and Turkish Historian at Binghamton University - State University of New York. He received his Ph.D. degree in History from UCLA. He has published numerous books and articles on Ottoman History, such as The Ottoman Empire: 1700-1922 by Cambridge University Press. He speaks Ottoman Turkish, modern Turkish, German, French and Spanish. Professor Donald Quataert was a chairperson of the Board of Governors at the Institute of Turkish Studies and he resigned from this position in 2006.
Professor, History, Binghamton University State University of New York Binghamton, New York 13902-6000

Tugrul Keskin: Why did you resign from the Institute of Turkish Studies (ITS) at Georgetown University? I have read that you were told to resign by a high Turkish official in the US. Is that correct? Would you please explain the entire situation regarding what happened and why it happened?
Donald Quataert: The Institute is not part of Georgetown, it is only located there. I have attached the letter of resignation which I sent to the Ambassador and to all members and associate members of the ITS. The issue revolved around the book review. The Director of the Institute urged me to talk to the Ambassador because he, the Director David Cuthell, had heard rumors that the embassy was upset because Ankara had learned of the review and was very upset.  So, I called the Ambassador and we had a cordial conversation.  I was never told to resign; rather, the Ambassador made it clear that persons in Ankara had threatened to withdraw the funding of ITS, should I remain as ITS chairman.  He never asked me to resign, but simply told me what some people in Ankara were thinking.  The Ambassador encouraged me to remain as a member should I decide to resign as chair.

Tugrul Keskin: Do you think this was a suggestion or was it a direct instruction to resign? 

Donald Quataert It was neither—rather it was the ambassador informing me of sentiments in Ankara.  When I asked if there was a real chance that the funds would be withdrawn should I not resign as chair, the Ambassador said there was such a real possibility.

Tugrul Keskin: What I have heard is that someone in the US sent your article, "The Massacres of Ottoman Armenians," to a former Turkish ambassador, Sukru Elekdag. From what I understand, your resignation process began at this point. Can you please clarify?

Donald Quataert: I heard the same report from a colleague.  I do not choose to name the scholar in the US, who is of Turkish origins, who informed the officials in Ankara.  Ambassador Elekdag’s name was given to me as one of the officials who was deeply upset at my review.

Tugrul Keskin: Do you think the way that this took place conflicts with academic freedom? 

Donald Quataert: Of course it conflicts with academic freedom.  I do not expect agreement with my views, but I do expect to have the right to express those views.  I believe that academic freedom demands that I have the right to express my views and at the same time to be the officer, even the chair, of an organization.  When expressing my views, as long I as do not identify myself as the chair or officer; I have the right to my views.  When I wrote the review, I signed my name as Professor of History, Binghamton University.   According to the dictates of academic freedom, the Institute was not involved.

Tugrul Keskin: Some people claim that in your short article, "The Massacres of Ottoman Armenians" published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary History in 2006, you claim that the Armenians were massacred in Ottoman Turkey. Is this true?

Donald Quataert: I suggest that people read the review—and yes, I do write that Armenians were massacred during the late Ottoman Empire.

Tugrul Keskin: On the one side, in the US, the Armenian lobby has been using so-called 'genocide politics' in order to maintain power and ethnic solidarity for Armenians; on the other side, some Turkish scholars and organizations in the US are using the Armenian issue to receive more financial support from Turkey, and this issue becomes their occupation. I believe this is ethically wrong. What is your perspective? 

Donald Quataert: If what you say is true, then I would agree that it is ethically wrong.  I do not pretend to be a specialist on émigré politics in the US.  My task is to study Ottoman history.  For my views on Ottoman history, see the seven books I have authored or the fourteen books I have edited or co-edited.

Tugrul Keskin: What are the mistakes of both sides: Turks and Armenians in the US? 

Donald Quataert: No comment.

Tugrul Keskin: How can the conflict between Armenians and Turks be solved peacefully? Can Turks and Armenians become two friendly nations again? 

Donald Quataert: Yes. The question is—is the fate of the Ottoman Armenians an issue blocking peaceful relations? If so, why is this so? If so, how can these issues be addressed? A beginning step, but not an easy one, to allow free and open discourse within each community. 

Tugrul Keskin: I am not a historian on Armenian and Turkish relations; I am a sociologist, however, as far as I know there was no real conflict between Armenians and Turks until the late 19th century, actually, until arrival of British or European imperialism into the region. Imperialism, in the sense that it makes ethnic groups enemies to each other in the region for purposes of exploitation Do you think the conflict between Armenians and Turks is a product of imperialism?

Donald Quataert: Muslims and Christians during the Ottoman era were aware of differences between them and there was occasional violence before the 19th century.  But when the twin forces of imperialism and nationalism entered the Ottoman world, Muslim-Christian relations deteriorated badly, giving rise to ever-higher levels of violence.  And yet, the massive violence of 1915 against the Ottoman Armenians was not inevitable but rather the product of very specific historical conditions, including the fact that World War I was raging at the time.  Historians need to examine these specific conditions and not allow themselves to see the violence as inevitable or a necessary outcome of the relations between Muslims and Christians, or “Turks” and “Armenians” in the late Ottoman era.

Tugrul Keskin: How do we develop Turkish Studies in the United State? What is your view on this subject? 

Donald Quataert: For more than twenty years I have worked hard to promote an accurate view of Turkey, the Ottoman Empire and its peoples in the United States and among Americans.  Turkey is well served if the truth and nothing but the truth is told.  We should demand that of ourselves.  Turkey is a wonderful country and is not served by those who want to present just one side of a story.

Tugrul Keskin: Dr. Quataert, thank you for the interview.

Donald Quataert: Thank you.

Dr. Donald Quataert’s book review can be found in the following source:
The Massacres of Ottoman Armenians and the Writing of Ottoman History Journal of Interdisciplinary History, xxxvii:2(Autumn, 2006), 249–259.


[1] Is Turkey Muzzling U.S. Scholars? http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/07/01/turkey
[2] Turkish Ambassador Dismisses U.S. Scholar For Telling the Truth on Armenian Genocide http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harut-sassounian/turkish-ambassador-dismis_b_104996.html

Tuesday, October 07, 2014

Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Academic Mailing List Virginia Tech University

OUR OBJECTIVES:

We have created a mailing list for scholars who may be interested in exchanging academic information related with Islam and Muslim Societies. You will find the information necessary to be a subscriber to this list. This is a scholarly network on Islam and Muslim Societies, which facilitates the academic exchange of information on conferences, panels, articles, books, and events. This network does not promote the orientalist approach toward Islam and Muslim Societies. We believe that Islam is a part and parcel of World civilization and has contributed toward the humanistic value of mankind. However, the last two hundreds years of human history shows us that Muslim Societies have been subject to a colonialist process. This process has transformed Islam from its original meaning and message to that of a reactionary identity. Therefore, today in Muslim Societies we witness poverty, economic inequality, chaotic urbanization, corruption, anti-democratic regimes, gender inequality, and occupations.

The Worldwide Islam Scholars Network promotes C. Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination perspectives in relation to Islam and Muslim Societies. Within this network of Sociologists, Political Scientists, Religious Studies Scholars, Historians, we will exchange scholarly information on Islam and Muslim societies.  

The Sociology of Islam Academic Mailing list at Portland State University is a free professional and academic networking tool to encourage interaction between individuals & organizations involved in Islam/Sociology of Islam/Islamist Movements and related fields worldwide. Members and subscribers are encouraged to dialogue and share resources on books, articles, conferences, teaching, and other related purposes.

The Archive at Virginia Tech
April 2007 – October 2009
April 2014 - Present
http://listserv.vt.edu/archives/sociology_of_islam.html

The Archive at Portland State University
November 2009 – April 2014
https://www.lists.pdx.edu/lists/admin/sociology_of_islam/archive

If you want to subscribe to the list, please send me an email.

tugrulk (at) vt.edu

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF ISLAM MAILING LIST:

*  Country                  Subscribers
*  -------                       -----------
*  (AC)                                    1
*  Armenia                              2
*  Australia                             29
*  Austria                                2
*  Bangladesh                          1
*  Belgium                               10
*  Bosnia and Herzegovina     1
*  Botswana                            1
*  Brazil                                  2
*  Bulgaria                               1
*  Canada                                56
*  Chile                                    2
*  Czech Republic                   1
*  Denmark                             14
*  (ED)                                     1
*  (EU)                                     4
*  Egypt                                  1
*  Finland                                6
*  Former                                1
*  France                                 27
*  Germany                             91
*  Hungary                              3
*  India                                    2
*  Ireland                                 3
*  Islamic Republic of Iran      13
*  Israel                                   15
*  Italy                                      20
*  Japan                                   10
*  Kenya                                 1
*  Kuwait                                1
*  Kyrgyzstan                         1
*  Lebanon                              5
*  Luxembourg                        1
*  Malaysia                             4
*  Mexico                                2
*  Morocco                             3
*  Netherlands                         33
*  New Zealand                       2
*  Nigeria                                 3
*  Norway                               8
*  Pakistan                              10
*  Poland                                 3
*  Qatar                                   18
*  Republic of Korea               2
*  Russian Federation             5
*  Saudi Arabia                       3
*  Singapore                            3
*  South Africa                        6
*  Spain                                   32
*  Sweden                                22
*  Switzerland                         6
*  Turkey                                92
*  Tanzania                             1
*  United Arab Emirates         8
*  United kingdom                  122
*  United states                       1,558

* Total number of academicians subscribed to the list:          2275
* Total number of countries represented:                               56
* Total number of universities represented:                           413

*****************

MESSAGE APPROVAL RULES

COPYRIGHT

CODE OF ETHICS

SUBSCRIPTION

MESSAGE APPROVAL RULES:
1. Please send us informational messages, such as job ads, syllabi, research requests, new books or articles, conference and panel announcements, news and articles related to Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies.
2. Discussion messages will be approved; however, we will not approve more than one discussion message a day from the same scholar.
3. Total discussion messages will not exceed more than 2 messages a day. We remain mindful of not flooding our members’ email inboxes with ongoing exchanges that are oftentimes limited to a few individuals. We encourage you to continue those discussions; however, please be mindful.
4. One-line or one-sentence messages will not be approved.
5. Please send your congratulations emails directly to intended members.
6. Marketing messages by publishers will be deleted.
7. Messages that contain personal or ad-hominem attacks will not be approved. Such messages constitute a violation of the list serve’s code of ethics.
8. Please remember Sociology of Islam has a right to approve or reject your messages. When you sign up for the list, you accept this rule. This is what distinguishes the list from personal discussion chains.

COPYRIGHT: © 2008 ISSN 1942-7956
1. If you are a subscriber to the Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies mailing list, you automatically accept the conditions and rules of the mailing list.
2. When you submit an email to the list, you accept the conditions and rules of the mailing list.
3. Please do not forward our list serve messages to third parties. If you do forward our messages to non-member third parties (non-academic community), you will be removed from the list. Our list serve is copyright protected.
4. If you use any information from our mailing list, for your book, article or website, you must cite the Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies mailing list or you must get permission from the moderators, owner or original author (subscriber).

CODE OF ETHICS:
1. The Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Mailing List follows the ASA code of Ethics: http://www.asanet.org/about/ethics.cfm 
2.  Members who violate this code of ethics will be removed from the list.

SUBSCRIPTION:
The Sociology of Islam subscription is open to anyone who is either a scholar or a student of Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies. The Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies Scholarly Network reserves the right not to include and to remove those who appear not to meet this criterion. However, we do not accept subscription request from anonymous email accounts, such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmx (or other); therefore, you should email your subscription request from your university email address with your full name.

Subscribers: The following people can be subscribers to the mailing list:

·      Emeritus/ Emeriti faculty with university email addresses
·      Full, Associate and Assistant Professors with university email addresses;
·      Visiting Assistant Professors with university email addresses;
·      Adjunct and Fixed Term Instructors with university email addresses;
·      PhD, MA and Undergraduate students with university email addresses;
·      Think-Tank scholars with email addresses from their organizations;
·      Staff who work at Middle East or Islamic Studies Centers with university email addresses;
·      Independent Scholars with university email addresses


Tugrul Keskin
Founder and Moderator of the Sociology of Islam Mailing List

Assistant Professor of International and Middle Eastern Studies
Portland State University
International Studies
East Hall 333
632 SW Hall Street
Portland, OR 97201 - USA