The Armenian genocide, the massacres of the Pontic Greeks and the agreed 'exchanges' of Greek and Turkish populations after the sack of Smyrna illustrated with a terrible clarity the truth of the Archbishop of Aleppo's warning: when a multi-ethnic empire mutated into a nation state, the result could only be carnage. It was as if, for the sake of a spuriously modern uniformity, the basest instincts of ordinary men were unleashed in a kind of tribal bloodletting.
The atrocities of the Armenian genocide, the killings of the Pontic Greeks, and the forced population exchanges following the devastation of Smyrna starkly illustrate the catastrophic consequences when a diverse empire transitions into a nation-state. The Archbishop of Aleppo's warning encapsulates this tragedy, revealing how this transformation often leads to brutal violence against various ethnic groups. The quest for uniformity and modernity triggered the darkest aspects of human nature, resulting in horrific bloodshed.
This grim historical reality emphasizes how the breakup of multi-ethnic societies can ignite rampant tribalism and conflict. Rather than fostering unity, the reshaping of identities within a nation-state framework frequently unleashes chaos and suffering. Ferguson's book highlights how these events marked a devastating chapter in history, reminding us of the perils inherent in forced homogenization and the fragile nature of peace in diverse societies.
