THE SURVIVAL OF WESTERN ARMENIAN ORPHANS IN ALEXANDROPOL (1920–1921)

This article examines the dynamics of survival and mortality among Western Armenian orphans during the Turkish occupation of Alexandropol between 1920 and 1921. Moving beyond the conventional dichotomy between direct physical violence and humanitarian crisis, the study offers a novel conceptual framework grounded in the theories of "administrative violence," "humanitarian governance," and "indirect mechanisms of destruction." Utilizing primary sources from the National Archives of Armenia, the research demonstrates how forced relocations (between Alexandropol and Kars), the disruption of relief operations, and the fragmentation of local governance functioned as institutional instruments of population destruction. The article argues that genocidal processes do not conclude with the cessation of mass violence but persist through altered institutional forms in the post-genocide period. By integrating the Alexandropol case into comparative genocide studies, this research highlights the critical role of institutional continuity and administrative control in shaping the survival of targeted populations during aftermath environments.