The inherited trauma and the fight for genocide recognition in Australia: A Greek Australian scholar study

Greek Australian Dr Themistocles Kritikakos is the author of the book "Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide: Recognition in 21st Century Australia", a study of genocide memory, identity, and political recognition in contemporary Australia

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Why Australia still has not recognised the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocides? A Greek Australian academic’s study explores the politics of genocide recognition

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Dr Themistocles Kritikakos is the author of the book "Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide: Recognition in 21st Century Australia", a study of genocide memory, identity, and political recognition in contemporary Australia.

The book offers a powerful and original contribution to the study of genocide memory, identity, and political recognition in contemporary Australia.

He told SBS Greek that genocide is defined not simply by the number of victims, but by the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

Through more than 70 interviews with descendants of survivors across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, Dr Kritikakos explored how traumatic family histories are passed down through generations.=

He said his research was shaped by both academic interest and personal family history.

Dr Themistocles Kritikakos' book "Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide: Recognition in 21st Century Australia"

His maternal grandparents came from Asia Minor's villages, Levissi and Kalamaki, before resettling in the Greek island of Kastellorizo.

He says the Australian federal government has not recognised the genocides of Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians, although recognition has occurred at state level in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

According to Dr Kritikakos, one of the key obstacles remains Australia’s national memory of Gallipoli and the narrative of reconciliation with Turkey.