Social Democrat Hunchakian Party
Encyclopedia
The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) , is the oldest of the Armenia
n political parties
and was the first Socialist party in the Ottoman Empire
and in Persia. It was founded in 1887 by Avetis Nazarbekian
, Mariam Vardanian
, Gevorg Gharadjian, Ruben Khan-Azat
, Christopher Ohanian, Gabriel Kafian
and Manuel Manuelian, a group of college students in Geneva, Switzerland, with the goal to gain Armenia's independence from the Ottoman Empire
, which is part of Armenian national liberation movement.
Also known as Hentchak, Henchak, Social-Democratic Hentchakists, Huntchakians, Hnchakian, Henchags, its name is taken from its newspaper Hunchak
, meaning "Clarion" or "Bell" in English
, and is taken by party members to represent "a call or awakening, for enlightenment and freedom."
n Marxist students who had left Russian Armenia to further their education in various universities of Western Europe. They were young, in their twenties, and supported by their affluent bourgeois families. They were influenced by Russian revolutionary ideology. Mariam Vardanian had worked with Russian revolutionaries in Saint Petersburg
. For the purpose of furthering revolutionary activity in Turkish Armenia, they formed the Hunchakian Revolutionary Party in August, 1887.
Hunchak party fought many battles against the Ottoman Empire, to free the Armenian people from Turkish rule. One of Armenia's famous national heroes Andranik Ozanian, at first, joined the Hunchak party, but disagreement with party policies led Andranik to leave the Hunchak ranks and join the Dashnak party and on to the Armenian Democratic Liberal Ramgavar Party.
, as party members took part in the Battle of Sardarapat
, during the World War I
at Caucasus Campaign
, which defended the Armenian capital Yerevan
from the Army of Islam of the Ottoman Empire
.
.
But the party remained in general a supporter of the development of the Armenian SSR for many decades, in sharp contrast to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) that remained opposed to the Communist regime in Armenia. This resulted at many times in feuds and rift between the Hunchaks and the Dashnaks in many centers of the Armenian diaspora, a situation becoming worse with religious differences, with the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party supporting Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church
and the ARF supporting the Holy See of Cilicia. In these conflicts , the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party was seen as a political ally on the side of the SDHP and in opposition to the ARF.
, due to tensions that escalated when the ARF elected Bishop Zareh as Zareh I
, Catholicos of Cilicia, a move that was rejected by the Hunchaks. This period was characterized by an escalation of conflict between the ARF on one side, and the SDHP and the ally ADL (Ramgavars) on the other side.
In the midst of increasing sectarian strife in the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, Lebanon's Armenian community began to close ranks, and in 1972, the Hunchakian Party ran a joint ticket with the Dashnaks. In 2000, the Hunchakian Party joined forces with Rafik Hariri
's Future Movement, which swept the city of Beirut
. SDHP Central Committee Member Dr Yeghia Jerejian was a member of Lebanese Parliament for many years. Currently the party is represented in the parliament by Sebouh Kalpakian.
.
The party is also active in the Armenian diaspora and in Lebanon
as well, where it competes for the six National Assembly seats reserved for ethnic Armenians
. The party subscribes to a socialist
ideology and advocates a planned economy
for Lebanon. Social Democrat Hunchakian Party has an official newspaper in Lebanon which is the Ararad daily newspaper.
considered largely affiliated with the ARF).
(also - Hnchak, Hentchak, Bell in Armenian) was the official organ of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party. It was founded by Avetis Nazarbekian
and published in 1887-1915, 1935–1940, in France
, Greece
, Britain
and USA. The main purpose of the paper was the propagand of the Armenian national movement for the liberation, the resistance in Western Armenia
n regions. Hunchak also supported the ideology of social-democracy and worker's consolidation.
Present-day party publications include:
Associate organizations:
Media:
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and was the first Socialist party in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and in Persia. It was founded in 1887 by Avetis Nazarbekian
Avetis Nazarbekian
Avetis Nazarbekian , also known as Nazarbek or Lerents, was an Armenian poet, journalist, political activist and revolutionary, one of the founders of Social Democrat Hunchakian Party....
, Mariam Vardanian
Mariam Vardanian
Mariam Vardanian was an Armenian political activist and revolutionary in the Russian Empire. She was one of the founders of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party....
, Gevorg Gharadjian, Ruben Khan-Azat
Ruben Khan-Azat
Ruben Khan-Azat was an Armenian political activist, one of the founders and leaders of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party....
, Christopher Ohanian, Gabriel Kafian
Gabriel Kafian
Gabriel Gerasimi Kafian was an Armenian political and public activist, one of the founders of Social Democrat Hunchakian Party....
and Manuel Manuelian, a group of college students in Geneva, Switzerland, with the goal to gain Armenia's independence from the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, which is part of Armenian national liberation movement.
Also known as Hentchak, Henchak, Social-Democratic Hentchakists, Huntchakians, Hnchakian, Henchags, its name is taken from its newspaper Hunchak
Hunchak (journal)
Hunchak was the official organ of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party.It was founded by Avetis Nazarbekian and published in 1887-1915, 1935-1940, in France, Greece, Britain and USA. The main purpose of the paper was the propaganda of the Armenian national movement for the liberation, the...
, meaning "Clarion" or "Bell" in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and is taken by party members to represent "a call or awakening, for enlightenment and freedom."
History
All seven founders of the party were Russian ArmeniaRussian Armenia
Russian Armenia is the period of Armenia's history under Russian rule beginning from 1829, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire to the declaration of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1918...
n Marxist students who had left Russian Armenia to further their education in various universities of Western Europe. They were young, in their twenties, and supported by their affluent bourgeois families. They were influenced by Russian revolutionary ideology. Mariam Vardanian had worked with Russian revolutionaries in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. For the purpose of furthering revolutionary activity in Turkish Armenia, they formed the Hunchakian Revolutionary Party in August, 1887.
Activities in the Ottoman Empire
- Kum Kapu Affray: (July 27, 1890)
- Sasun ResistanceSasun Resistance (1894)The Sassoun resistance of 1894 or also known as First Sassoun resistance was the conflict between Ottoman Empire's forces and the Armenian militia belong to Armenian national movement's Hunchak party at the Sassoun region.- Background :...
: (1894) - Defense of VanDefense of VanThe 1896 Defense of Van or Van Rebellion was an act of self-defense by the Armenian population in Van against the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire in June 1896.- Background :...
: (June, 1896) - Khanasor ExpeditionKhanasor ExpeditionThe Khanasor Expedition was an attack by an Armenian irregular unit against the Kurdish Mazrik tribe on July 25, 1897. In 1896, in the aftermath of the Defense of Van, the Mazrik tribe had ambushed and slaughtered many of the Armenian defenders of Van as they were retreating into Persia...
: (July 25, 1897) - Zeitun ResistanceZeitun ResistanceThe Zeitun Resistance by the Armenian militia against the Ottoman Empire may refer to:*Zeitun Rebellion in 1895–1896, First Zeitun Resistance.*Second Zeitun Resistance....
: (August 30, 1914 - December 1, 1914 and March 25, 1915) - Siege of VanSiege of VānThe Siege of Vān occurred in 1547 when Suleiman the Magnificent attacked Persia in his second campaign of the Ottoman-Safavid War ....
: (April 19, 1915 - May 6, 1915) - Shabin-Karahisar uprising: (June 2, 1915 - June 30, 1915)
- The Twenty MartyrsThe 20 Hunchakian gallowsThe 20 Hunchakian gallows is the common name for the group of Hunchakian activists who were hanged in the Sultan Bayazid square of Constantinople on June 15, 1915.-History:...
(June 15, 1915)
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The party also played role in establishment of Democratic Republic of ArmeniaDemocratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
, as party members took part in the Battle of Sardarapat
Battle of Sardarapat
The Battle of Sardarabad or Battle of Sardarapat was a battle of the Caucasus Campaign of World War I that took place near Sardarabad , Armenia from May 21-29, 1918...
, during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at Caucasus Campaign
Caucasus Campaign
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the UK as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I...
, which defended the Armenian capital Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
from the Army of Islam of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
After the takeover of the Armenian communists of power in Armenia in 1921 and dissolving of the Democratic Republic of Armenia, and the declaration of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, all political parties apart from the Armenian Communist Party were forbidden. Thus the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, alongside all the other Armenian traditional political parties effectively became a party solely in the Armenian diasporaArmenian diaspora
The Armenian diaspora refers to the Armenian communities outside the Republic of Armenia and self proclaimed de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
.
But the party remained in general a supporter of the development of the Armenian SSR for many decades, in sharp contrast to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
(ARF) that remained opposed to the Communist regime in Armenia. This resulted at many times in feuds and rift between the Hunchaks and the Dashnaks in many centers of the Armenian diaspora, a situation becoming worse with religious differences, with the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party supporting Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
and the ARF supporting the Holy See of Cilicia. In these conflicts , the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party was seen as a political ally on the side of the SDHP and in opposition to the ARF.
Activities in Lebanon
In the 1950s, it clashed, sometimes violently, with the Dashnak PartyArmenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
, due to tensions that escalated when the ARF elected Bishop Zareh as Zareh I
Zareh I
His Holiness Zareh I Payaslian was Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1956 to 1963....
, Catholicos of Cilicia, a move that was rejected by the Hunchaks. This period was characterized by an escalation of conflict between the ARF on one side, and the SDHP and the ally ADL (Ramgavars) on the other side.
In the midst of increasing sectarian strife in the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, Lebanon's Armenian community began to close ranks, and in 1972, the Hunchakian Party ran a joint ticket with the Dashnaks. In 2000, the Hunchakian Party joined forces with Rafik Hariri
Rafik Hariri
Rafic Baha El Deen Al-Hariri , was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004.He headed five cabinets during his tenure...
's Future Movement, which swept the city of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. SDHP Central Committee Member Dr Yeghia Jerejian was a member of Lebanese Parliament for many years. Currently the party is represented in the parliament by Sebouh Kalpakian.
Modern
In the early 1990s, the party took part in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The party today forms part of the Armenian opposition and has a representative at the National Assembly of ArmeniaNational Assembly of Armenia
The Azgayin Zhoghov of Armenia is the official name of the legislative branch of the government of Armenia.-History:Until the promulgation of the Hatt-i Sharif of 1839, the patriarch and his clients, within limits, possessed authority over Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire...
.
The party is also active in the Armenian diaspora and in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
as well, where it competes for the six National Assembly seats reserved for ethnic Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
. The party subscribes to a socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
ideology and advocates a planned economy
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
for Lebanon. Social Democrat Hunchakian Party has an official newspaper in Lebanon which is the Ararad daily newspaper.
Affiliate organizations
The Hunchakian party has established affiliate organizations such as the AEBU which is an organization that helps with educational, health and social care, the Armenian Dkhrouhi Youth Association, the Gaidz Youth Organization, and HMM (Homenmen) which is an independent sporting organization but strongly affiliated with the SDHP (not to be confused with HomenetmenHomenetmen
Homenetmen is a pan-Armenian diaspora organization devoted to sport and Scouting. The motto of Homenetmen is "Elevate Yourself and Elevate Others with You" .-Foundation:...
considered largely affiliated with the ARF).
Party Publications / Organs
HunchakHunchak (journal)
Hunchak was the official organ of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party.It was founded by Avetis Nazarbekian and published in 1887-1915, 1935-1940, in France, Greece, Britain and USA. The main purpose of the paper was the propaganda of the Armenian national movement for the liberation, the...
(also - Hnchak, Hentchak, Bell in Armenian) was the official organ of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party. It was founded by Avetis Nazarbekian
Avetis Nazarbekian
Avetis Nazarbekian , also known as Nazarbek or Lerents, was an Armenian poet, journalist, political activist and revolutionary, one of the founders of Social Democrat Hunchakian Party....
and published in 1887-1915, 1935–1940, in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and USA. The main purpose of the paper was the propagand of the Armenian national movement for the liberation, the resistance in Western Armenia
Western Armenia
Western Armenia is a term, primarily used by Armenians, to refer to Armenian-inhabited areas of the Armenian Highland that were part of the Ottoman Empire and now are part of the Republic of Turkey....
n regions. Hunchak also supported the ideology of social-democracy and worker's consolidation.
Present-day party publications include:
- Ararad daily newspaper published in BeirutBeirutBeirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, LebanonLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among... - TchahagirTchahagirTchahagir is an Armenian language weekly published in Cairo, Egypt by the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party.Published since May 5 1948 as bi-weekly, four years later it became monthly, then periodical. Second period of publication started on November 7, 1963...
Weekly published in CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... - Massis WeeklyMassis WeeklyMassis is bilingual since 1980. The weekly newspaper is headquartered in Pasadena, California.Massis is the organ of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party's Western USA region....
and MassisPost.com published in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... - Nor Serounti Tsayn (Voice of Nor Serount) published in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK - Zank Armenian Journal, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
External links
Associate organizations:
- Armenian Athletic Association Homenmen
- Dekhrouni Student and Youth Association
- Gaidz Youth Organization
- Nor Serount Cultural Association
Media: