Independence and Beyond: In Search of a New Armenian Diaspora, Post-1991

[TomServo]

A video of (part of) the conference is available on the CivilNet website. I hope they make the rest available soon.

With the co-sponsorship of the USC Armenian Studies Institute and the Armenian Review, we have organized a one-day, international, academic conference to examine the impact of the independence of the Republic of Armenia and subsequent processes of nation-building there on various facets of diaspora life, such as political ideologies and cultural narratives, linguistic and literary production, organizations and institutions, economic investment, remittances and affiliation, and hybrid identity formation.

http://dornsife.usc.edu/events/site/96/902146/independence-and-beyond-in-search-of-a-new-armenian-diaspora/

[UrMistake]

Re: Independence and Beyond: In Search of a New Armenian Diaspora, Post-1991

https://medium.com/@ursulakazarian/five-ways-the-us-armenian-diaspora-gets-it-wrong-a-call-to-reframe-the-issues-a43638a6ef74

Very good articale all included , i just had to post it for eveyrone , bravo to the author .

Five Ways the US Armenian Diaspora Gets It Wrong: A Call to Reframe the Issues

Sochi, August 8, 2014. Aliyev, Putin, and Sargsyan meeting to discuss options for peace in Nagorno-Karabagh. Photo by Alexei Druzhinin, http://en.ria.ru/politics/20140810/1...-Karabakh.html
It is not a novel concept to most that diasporan assistance to Armenia since the early days of independence has in many ways helped to create the current reality in Armenia. Yet, by and large, the diaspora[1] remains divided on how to help the Motherland—speaking only about the diaspora circles that are actually engaged on the topic, at all. If we are to achieve the oft-touted diasporan goal of building a strong homeland, we must reframe the issues and actively listen to those who have lived and worked in Armenia and those who are currently there working for increased civil rights in Armenia. If we fail to listen and understand the serious problems of Armenians in Armenia, and if we fail to work together to promote a rational way forward, any assistance we offer will continue to risk doing more harm than good for the development of civil society in Armenia.



The recent events along the Line of Contact between Armenia and Azerbaijan have people talking, largely online, both in Armenia and in the diaspora. In fact, given that Aliyev made his most potent war threats via Twitter, and that Sargsyan is in the great position of being able to remain pro-peace in his rhetoric for a number of reasons, the environment is generally calmer on the streets of Yerevan and throughout Armenia than in Armenian social media circles. That’s not to say it’s entirely calm in Armenia, given that there was recently a pro-peace march in Yerevan coordinated by human rights lawyers and civil society activists, which garnered criticism and even threats from so-called nationalist elements.

Unfortunately, among diasporan circles on social media sites that claim to advocate for a strong Armenian civil society, the debate taking place has largely ignored the voices of those in Armenia who are advocating against military escalation. Then again, this should perhaps come as no surprise, as most of the diaspora has largely ignored activists in Armenia for some time, leading to a complex relationship between diasporans and Armenians living in Armenia (whether born there or repatriated from the diaspora). Armenians who were born in the Armenian SSR or in the Republic of Armenia and now reside in other countries, including the US, have also become a significant part of the diaspora. They bring with them valuable personal experiences that might help us to better understand the impacts of the current political reality and our own role in it. However, their voices, much like those of Armenians still living in Armenia, and often like those who have lived and worked in Armenia and later returned to the US, are often silenced through the exclusion of topical relevance to their experiences in public discussion. This mottled and splintered communication and understanding among Armenians who are actively interested in Armenia’s development is at the core of many failed diasporan policies and projects in Armenia.

The most pressing question … isn’t whether the diaspora should speak or have a role in relation to Armenian politics and development. It’s already speaking. It’s been speaking.


continue the rest at .... https://medium.com/@ursulakazarian/f...s-a43638a6ef74

[Haykakan]

Re: Independence and Beyond: In Search of a New Armenian Diaspora, Post-1991

I read the whole thing and i see some good advice in it yet there is also some bad advice to. I very much agree that the diaspora and Hayastantsis must understand each other and work together. I also agree that we need to work with the few turks which are willing to work with us and we must stop labeling them all as evil. The part that most people do not understand is also very much not understood by this author. In advocating a move away from the Russian sphere of influence the author fails to offer any realistic alternatives. This is a common theme among most westerners and increasingly so among young hayastantsis. Most of these analysts contend that we leave Russia's orbit and that doing so will make everything better somehow. They are so very blind that they do not see that the only alternative is being dominated by USA and it is simply trading one master for another. The former has made it possible for Armenians to survive in what is left of Armenia. During the soviet years Armenia thrived like it had never thrived before and its citizens enjoyed the highest standards of living ever. I find it amusing how the author correctly points out the european imperial tactics used by Russia yet completely ignores the disastrous USA policies plaguing much of the world today. The author correctly praises the impressive balancing act the Armenian government has achived in playing west vs east yet the same author advocates the removal of that government and is backing policies which would make it impossible to do any balancing at all(exiting russian orbit). While Armenians should take care of Armenian problems there is no scenario which would allow Armenia to withstand a turkish invasion without the help of outside forces. This is not slave mentality - this is the fact on the ground! Again there is no solution at all offered by this nor any of the other daydreaming authors. The common thread in these blogs, analysis, ...or whatever is that we move away from Russia yet there is zero alternatives given nor discussed. People do not realize how stupid such analysis is - this is basically me telling you that if you quit your job you will be rich but without offering you another job nor the hope of finding one. How many of you would take such an offer?

https://medium.com/@ursulakazarian/f...s-a43638a6ef74


Very good articale all included , i just had to post it for eveyrone , bravo to the author .

Five Ways the US Armenian Diaspora Gets It Wrong: A Call to Reframe the Issues

Sochi, August 8, 2014. Aliyev, Putin, and Sargsyan meeting to discuss options for peace in Nagorno-Karabagh. Photo by Alexei Druzhinin, http://en.ria.ru/politics/20140810/1...-Karabakh.html
It is not a novel concept to most that diasporan assistance to Armenia since the early days of independence has in many ways helped to create the current reality in Armenia. Yet, by and large, the diaspora[1] remains divided on how to help the Motherland—speaking only about the diaspora circles that are actually engaged on the topic, at all. If we are to achieve the oft-touted diasporan goal of building a strong homeland, we must reframe the issues and actively listen to those who have lived and worked in Armenia and those who are currently there working for increased civil rights in Armenia. If we fail to listen and understand the serious problems of Armenians in Armenia, and if we fail to work together to promote a rational way forward, any assistance we offer will continue to risk doing more harm than good for the development of civil society in Armenia.



The recent events along the Line of Contact between Armenia and Azerbaijan have people talking, largely online, both in Armenia and in the diaspora. In fact, given that Aliyev made his most potent war threats via Twitter, and that Sargsyan is in the great position of being able to remain pro-peace in his rhetoric for a number of reasons, the environment is generally calmer on the streets of Yerevan and throughout Armenia than in Armenian social media circles. That’s not to say it’s entirely calm in Armenia, given that there was recently a pro-peace march in Yerevan coordinated by human rights lawyers and civil society activists, which garnered criticism and even threats from so-called nationalist elements.

Unfortunately, among diasporan circles on social media sites that claim to advocate for a strong Armenian civil society, the debate taking place has largely ignored the voices of those in Armenia who are advocating against military escalation. Then again, this should perhaps come as no surprise, as most of the diaspora has largely ignored activists in Armenia for some time, leading to a complex relationship between diasporans and Armenians living in Armenia (whether born there or repatriated from the diaspora). Armenians who were born in the Armenian SSR or in the Republic of Armenia and now reside in other countries, including the US, have also become a significant part of the diaspora. They bring with them valuable personal experiences that might help us to better understand the impacts of the current political reality and our own role in it. However, their voices, much like those of Armenians still living in Armenia, and often like those who have lived and worked in Armenia and later returned to the US, are often silenced through the exclusion of topical relevance to their experiences in public discussion. This mottled and splintered communication and understanding among Armenians who are actively interested in Armenia’s development is at the core of many failed diasporan policies and projects in Armenia.

The most pressing question … isn’t whether the diaspora should speak or have a role in relation to Armenian politics and development. It’s already speaking. It’s been speaking.


continue the rest at .... https://medium.com/@ursulakazarian/f...s-a43638a6ef74

[Eddo211]

Re: Independence and Beyond: In Search of a New Armenian Diaspora, Post-1991

What our Diaspora so called leaders all they want is political power/a seat in Yerevan.....the fact that they ignore the voices of Yerevantsis says alot.

[UrMistake]

Re: Independence and Beyond: In Search of a New Armenian Diaspora, Post-1991

What our Diaspora so called leaders all they want is political power/a seat in Yerevan.....the fact that they ignore the voices of Yerevantsis says alot.

Still if they had even one sit in the parliament it would made small but better than nothing for impact !

I'm not about community priests or small organised leaders ..we have those here in greece and i can say that first of all we must be able to save and have power for ourselfs here at our second home before we would be able to think to help our brothers in armenia !

In reality we dont have power and a say in things cause we dont have the right to vote ! we dont have voice ... even if we are few among the many that dont act for the greater good .

So the only thing is to abbadon the romantism , we should organise better and demand from every armenian ambassador to be our voice and we should make demands ...STRONG ones equally strong as we make every april 24 , cause not only its for our good but also the embassy should help and represent our collectiveness .