An Inconvenient Genocide | Geoffrey Robertson

An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians?

Accolades & Praise

• Award-Winning: Winner of the Polemic of the Year at The Paddy Power Political Book Awards 2015.
• Critical Acclaim: Praised by Helena Kennedy, QC, as a brilliant display of forensic advocacy that forces a shameful but inconvenient truth upon the world.

Extended Synopsis

On April 24th, 2015, people around the globe commemorated the centenary of the deaths of over one million Armenians. In the eyes of many, this observance remembers a clear genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. Conversely, Turkey continues to explain the devastating death toll as the tragic result of a vicious civil war, steadfastly refusing to acknowledge the events of 1915 as constituting genocide.

This historical dispute has evolved into a persistent international issue. While twenty national parliaments in democratic countries have voted to formally recognize the genocide, world powers like Britain and the United States continue to equivocate, seemingly out of fear of alienating their strategic NATO ally. An Inconvenient Genocide directly confronts this geopolitical reluctance.

In this seminal book, Geoffrey Robertson QC, a former UN appeals judge, utilizes his profound legal expertise to set out the facts. With meticulous forensic analysis, he proves beyond all reasonable doubt that the massacres and deportations were not mere casualties of war, but a calculated crime against humanity which unequivocally amounted to genocide.

About the Author

Geoffrey Robertson, QC, is a renowned barrister, academic, author, and broadcaster. He is the founder and head of Doughty Street Chambers, the UK's leading human rights legal practice. Having served as a former UN appeals judge, Robertson brings unparalleled international legal expertise to his historical and human rights analyses.

Reader Targeting

• Historians and scholars focused on Middle Eastern history and the legacy of the Ottoman Empire.
• Legal professionals and students studying international law and human rights tribunals.
• Readers interested in geopolitical relations and the modern implications of recognizing historical atrocities.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the central argument of this book?
Geoffrey Robertson argues and systematically proves that the massacres and deportations of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 constituted a crime against humanity amounting to genocide.

Why is the international recognition of this event still controversial?
While many democratic nations acknowledge it as genocide, countries like the United States and the United Kingdom often equivocate to avoid political fallout with Turkey, a strategic NATO ally.

What are the author's credentials for writing on this topic?
Geoffrey Robertson, QC, is a highly respected human rights barrister, founder of the UK's leading human rights legal practice, and a former UN appeals judge with deep expertise in international law.

Bust-Down Books: More Than a Bookstore