Vahagn Dadrian: The Scholar Who Illuminated History’s Darkest Chapters (Video)

A Multidisciplinary Scholar

Born in 1926 in Constantinople, Dadrian pursued an impressive academic path. He studied mathematics at the University of Berlin, history at the University of Vienna, and international law at the University of Zurich. He later taught sociology at institutions such as New York University and Harvard.

Founding Comparative Genocide Studies

Dadrian’s legacy lies in his systematic approach to genocide. He did not examine the Armenian Genocide in isolation, but in the broader context of comparative genocide studies. He analyzed genocides through legal, political, and psychological frameworks, emphasizing that genocide is rarely spontaneous—it is premeditated, calculated, and often long in the making.

Unlocking the Archives

Through meticulous archival research, Dadrian uncovered and analyzed official Ottoman documents related to the Armenian Genocide. He was one of the first scholars to bring into academic circulation the British High Commission’s reports and the British Royal Law Office's documents from 1918–1920, stored in public archives in London. His fluency in Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, German, French, and English enabled him to work across multiple primary sources and archival systems.

Political and Legal Analysis

Dadrian’s work went beyond historical documentation. He applied international law, criminology, and social science to define and contextualize genocide. He developed key terminology and analytical frameworks that shaped modern understandings of genocidal processes, offering scientific characterizations of the Armenian Genocide.

Turning Points

Two life-changing moments shaped Dadrian’s path. The first was reading Franz Werfel’s novel The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, which profoundly influenced his perspective. The second was meeting Catholic priest Grigor Gergerian, whose own work on genocide documentation opened new avenues for Dadrian’s future research.

A Life of Global Lectures and Recognition

Between the 1960s and 1990s, Dadrian delivered lectures in French, English, and German at leading universities across Europe and North America, including Berlin, Munich, Zurich, Geneva, Amsterdam, and Brussels. He also lectured at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and at the United Nations in New York. In 1996, he became the first Armenian scholar to speak at the UK House of Commons on the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

A Monumental Scholarly Legacy

Over a career spanning four decades, Dadrian authored 22 monographs, 140 scholarly articles, and numerous other publications in multiple languages. He assembled a vast private archive—built from personal research and travels—which remains a critical resource for scholars studying the Armenian Genocide and comparative genocide studies.

Thanks to his tireless work and academic rigor, Vahagn Dadrian not only preserved the truth of a silenced history but also created a framework for the scientific study of genocide worldwide.