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Dixon begins her article with explanation of her topic, the official Turkish narrative of the Armenian question, as well as the order in which the article will proceed in defending its arguments. The two time periods in question for Dixon are the 1980s and the early 21st century. In the 1980s, Turkish officials responded to the long silence regarding the Armenian question. The response in the 1980s was indeed a response predicated on events that occurred decades prior, as well as extremely recent events in Turkey's political and military history. Dixon explicates:

In the wake of the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in 1965, groups throughout the Armenian diaspora mobilised, and some decided to take action to increase international awareness and recognition of the Armenian genocide…Individuals and groups began political efforts to get other states to officially recognise the Armenian genocide. At the same time, others resorted to terrorism…intended to pressure Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. Despite these new pressures, there were no notable changes in Turkey's policies concerning the Armenian question in the 1970s. (2010,-Page 471)

These pressures and tensions continued to build as Turkey engaged in conflict with Cyprus. A breaking point in the struggle for recognition of the Armenian genocide came after the coup of 1980. The coup forced several key...

An official narrative to defend and support the Armenian attacks was prepared and disseminated with meticulous intention.
In 1981, the Turkish government formed the Directorate General of Intelligence and Research (I-stihbarat ve Arast-rma Genel Mudurlugu, IAGM). The purpose of this group was to establish scholarship on the issue of the Armenian genocide. This group additionally collaborated with the various departments of the Turkish government in the construction and composition of the official narrative. (Dixon, 2010) After the scholarship was performed and the narrative completed, published copies of the narrative became available for public consumption. Qualified diplomats and historians composed and published books on the subject and the literature about the "question" proliferated. (Dixon, 2010) Furthermore, other aspects of the plan to recognize the genocide included finding and planting artifacts of the genocide within the Ottoman archives. Now that there was an increase of literature on the subject, the subject also taught in schools to the Turkish youth. (Dixon, 2010) Finally, the Turkish government sought international support of their actions, including presentation of the official narrative to the United States of America specifically, who was engaged in a Cold War with Russia at the time. The first period of time Dixon focuses upon is the actions of…