ABSTRACT
Armenian revolutionary parties and groups that emerged between 1888 and 1908 are usually described as nationalistic or Marxist. The revolutionary movement started when political parties redefined liberation to give precedence of the liberation of the people over that of a territory and related the participation of the people in the fight for a new system of government in the future. The Social Democratic Hnchakian Party (SDHP) founded in 1887-1988 was, in this sense, the first revolutionary group to emerge. The SDHP chose Ottoman Armenia as the first arena for its activities since Western Armenians were in dire need of liberation and communities there could lose their viability if not saved soon enough. Founded in 1890, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) shared with the SDHP the vision of a socialist society, the dedication to Ottoman Armenians, and the belief in a relatively brief struggle. These common traits led to their initial agreement to integrate the two organizations.
