The Right to Struggle: Selected Writings of Monte Melkonian on the Armenian National Question

Description

The Right to Struggle is a selection of writings on the Armenian national question. The selections, all written between the years 1981 and 1991, were authored, either in whole or in part, by Armenian national hero, Monte Melkonian. Selections include discussions of organizational questions and strategies, interpretations of Armenian history, and observations about the Armenian diaspora. The final chapter consists of three short selections about the conflict in Mountainous Karabagh. Table of Contents 2 A word from the author on the second edition 4 Editor's Preface to the Second Edition 4 Preface to the First Edition 13 Chapter One: On Methodology 16 OUR ORIGINS: TRUE AND FALSE 17 METHODOLOGY FOR CONSIDERING THE PRESENT SITUATION OF THE ARMENIAN HOMELAND 20 MELKONIAN RESPONDS TO BAGDASSARIAN 24 DEFINITIONS 35 Notes: 54 Map: Historic Homelands 55 Chapter Two: Defining Armenian National Self-Determination 65 THE QUESTION OF STRATEGY 67 THE ORIENTATION OF OUR GOAL 84 A LETTER ON SELF-DETERMINATION 92 NATIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION AND THE ARMENIAN CASE TODAY 102 REPLY TO A COMRADE 113 Notes: 118 Chapter Three: Organizational Questions 35 ORGANIZATIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE DIASPORA 37 FOLLOW-UP TO "ORGANIZATIONAL QUESTIONS" 47 REPLY TO A CRITIQUE OF "ORGANIZATIONAL QUESTIONS* 57 GENERAL PRINCIPLES 62 LONG-TERM ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVES FOR THE ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT 65 Notes: 70 Chapter Four: Various Aspects of the Diaspora 81 NEWROZ: A NEW START 83 "ONLY THROUGH UNITY IS THERE STRENGTH!" 85 WHY SOVIET ARMENIA DOES NOT CURRENTLY CONSTITUTE A TOTAL RESPONSE TO OUR NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS 88 ARMENIAN-TURKISH DIALOG 93 ASSIMILATION AND ALTERNATIVES 94 A CRITIQUE OF PAST NOTIONS 99 REFLECTIONS ON COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THINKING 107 Notes: 116 Chapter Five 119 KARABAGH/ARTSAKH 119 OUR SOLIDARITY WITH KARABAGH 119 OUR SOLIDARITY WITH ARTSAKH 124 LETTER FROM SHAHUMIAN 127 Notes: 128 MAP: 128 EPILOGUE: 128 IMPERIALISM IN THE "NEW WORLD ORDER" 129