The Policy of Positive Neutrality of the Armenian Political Parties in Lebanon during the Civil War, 1975–90: A Critical Analysis
Analyzes the policy of 'positive neutrality' adopted in 1975 by the three Armenian political parties in Lebanon (the ARF, the Hunchaks and the Ramkavars) during the Lebanese civil war, and asks whether it succeeded. Geukjian draws on the Armenian party press (notably the ARF daily Aztag), Armenian-language community histories, and interviews with Lebanese-Armenian political figures. He documents the pressures on the neutrality policy, the reprisals against the community, and the individual Armenians who broke ranks to join Phalangist, National Liberal or leftist militias. He evaluates the policy through a conflict-resolution framework rather than a communal-apologetic one.