Identification of Ethno-Confessional Groups in Syria (a Case Study of the Armenian Community in Syria)

Abstract

The article looks into some issues regarding the identification of ethno-confessional groups in the Syrian Arab Republic with a focus on the concepts (or terms) applied to them. Syrian Armenians are chosen as a case study, since they recognize themselves as Syrians and at the same time attach much importance to maintaining their Armenian identity. The first section of the article deals with the concept of minority and the usage of the term in the academic literature and legal sources, since ethno-confessional groups are often studied through the prism of this concept. Usually, it implies not just the size of the group but its non-dominating political and legal status. This often brings about some negative connotations even in the cases of the “neutral” usage of the concept. The second – studies the approach of the Syrian government and explains what factors define their terminology applied to ethno-confessional groups and how the concepts and terms used by the Syrian authorities reflect their policies towards ethno-confessional issues in Syria. The third section is a case study of the Armenian community of Syria. It offers an account of concepts used by them which are compared to those used within the governmental approaches. It is concluded that, on the one hand, the Syrian government is pursuing the idea of a common Syrian identity, which unites all the Syrians no matter their ethnic and confessional identity. On the other, despite that, on the local level ethno-confessional groups still identify themselves and other groups based on their ethno-confessional identity.