" 

  
 There are very specific reasons why the term Genocide is applied in the Armenian case. In fact Dr Melson and others use the term ""total genocide"" to describe the Armenian (and Jewish) case versus ""partial genocide"" that applies to most others. 

 ""...total genocide implies either (a) the extermination of a group, or (b) the mass murder of a large fraction of its members together with the destruction of its cultural and social identity...partial genocide is less drastic. It stops short of intending the total extermination of the members of the group...and does not attempt to destroy completely its cultural and social identity."" Revolution and Genocide pp 27 & 28 

 Dr Melson goes on to characterize the Armenian Genocide and the Nazi genocide of the Jews and Gypsies as the two examples of total genocide in the modern era.  "