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DIASPORA BYPASSES OFFICIAL FILTERS
Siranuysh Papyan
10:59 15/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29287
Interview with Dr. Ara Sanjian, Professor of Armenian and Middle
Eastern History and Director of the Armenian Research Center at the
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Mr Sanjian, there is the opinion that the Diaspora is now trying to
get involved in internal political processes of Armenia for the first
time since the independence of Armenia.
When the Armenian issue was removed from the international political
arena in 1920s, those, who had survived the Armenian genocide, were
unable to return home. Then Diaspora Armenians wondered whether their
homeland was the historical Armenia and Cilicia or the eastern Armenia
under the Soviet Union.
During the Soviet Union, Diaspora members didn't have many
possibilities to engage in the home political life of Armenia. After
1990, three traditional Armenian parties returned to Armenia but their
successes were limited, moreover, considering that the foreign offices
of these organizations were subordinated to Yerevan in the course of
time and their decisions were often not perceivable by the Diaspora.
You mean the famous formula to say "nothing but good things about
Armenia" functions within the Diaspora?
The Diaspora position of always supporting the Armenian government,
or the statehood, is more spread than the ideas of the traditional
Hnchakyan or Ramkavar parties. This position is based on the idea
that in order to keep the Diaspora spirit high, it is necessary
to say only positive things about Armenia. For instance, I have
heard that there is no need to speak about the existing corruption
in Armenia in the Diaspora because it may be a reason for Diaspora
donators not to provide financial support to Armenia, or one should
not raise the issue on the old university curriculums or the party
views of universities in Armenia, because Diaspora youths should be
encouraged to study in Armenia.
There are many taboos within the Diaspora: discussing the shortcomings
of Armenia and the Diaspora means admitting something is wrong which
is considered non-patriotism and often even something that splits
the Armenian society.
Do you see conscious changes within the Diaspora?
The events in different Diaspora colonies after February 18
elections were normal considering the possibilities provided by high
technologies. Within the Diaspora there are "pro-Yerevan" figures,
intellectuals who are out of the three-party system or are in it as
opposition. Those people, who studied in Soviet Armenia or visited
Armenia in that period, are important in this group. Thanks to the
development of online news portals in Armenia, these people find it
easier to deliver their words to Armenia bypassing the official media
filters of Armenia and the Diaspora.
But the potential of the part of the Diaspora should not be
overestimated, which is small. There is no structural cooperation
between the members, they are not the heads of cultural, political,
religious, sport and educational structures of the Diaspora. They
have no enough potential to organize crowded rallies; it is not easy
for them to raise their voice through traditional Diaspora media.
Those Diaspora Armenians, who support the Armenian opposition, which
is now demanding radical changes, are usually the old criticizers of
the colonies they live in.
From: Baghdasarian
Siranuysh Papyan
10:59 15/03/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29287
Interview with Dr. Ara Sanjian, Professor of Armenian and Middle
Eastern History and Director of the Armenian Research Center at the
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Mr Sanjian, there is the opinion that the Diaspora is now trying to
get involved in internal political processes of Armenia for the first
time since the independence of Armenia.
When the Armenian issue was removed from the international political
arena in 1920s, those, who had survived the Armenian genocide, were
unable to return home. Then Diaspora Armenians wondered whether their
homeland was the historical Armenia and Cilicia or the eastern Armenia
under the Soviet Union.
During the Soviet Union, Diaspora members didn't have many
possibilities to engage in the home political life of Armenia. After
1990, three traditional Armenian parties returned to Armenia but their
successes were limited, moreover, considering that the foreign offices
of these organizations were subordinated to Yerevan in the course of
time and their decisions were often not perceivable by the Diaspora.
You mean the famous formula to say "nothing but good things about
Armenia" functions within the Diaspora?
The Diaspora position of always supporting the Armenian government,
or the statehood, is more spread than the ideas of the traditional
Hnchakyan or Ramkavar parties. This position is based on the idea
that in order to keep the Diaspora spirit high, it is necessary
to say only positive things about Armenia. For instance, I have
heard that there is no need to speak about the existing corruption
in Armenia in the Diaspora because it may be a reason for Diaspora
donators not to provide financial support to Armenia, or one should
not raise the issue on the old university curriculums or the party
views of universities in Armenia, because Diaspora youths should be
encouraged to study in Armenia.
There are many taboos within the Diaspora: discussing the shortcomings
of Armenia and the Diaspora means admitting something is wrong which
is considered non-patriotism and often even something that splits
the Armenian society.
Do you see conscious changes within the Diaspora?
The events in different Diaspora colonies after February 18
elections were normal considering the possibilities provided by high
technologies. Within the Diaspora there are "pro-Yerevan" figures,
intellectuals who are out of the three-party system or are in it as
opposition. Those people, who studied in Soviet Armenia or visited
Armenia in that period, are important in this group. Thanks to the
development of online news portals in Armenia, these people find it
easier to deliver their words to Armenia bypassing the official media
filters of Armenia and the Diaspora.
But the potential of the part of the Diaspora should not be
overestimated, which is small. There is no structural cooperation
between the members, they are not the heads of cultural, political,
religious, sport and educational structures of the Diaspora. They
have no enough potential to organize crowded rallies; it is not easy
for them to raise their voice through traditional Diaspora media.
Those Diaspora Armenians, who support the Armenian opposition, which
is now demanding radical changes, are usually the old criticizers of
the colonies they live in.
From: Baghdasarian