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ARMENOLOGICAL CENTERS IN THE DIASPORA AS INSTITUTIONAL INTELLECTUAL RESOURCE
08.10.2013
Arestakes Simavoryan Head of the Center for Armenian Studies,
"Noravank" Foudnation Vahram Hovyan Expert, Center for Armenian
Studies, "Noravank" Foundation
The issue of revelation and consolidation of the national potential
is peculiar for the countries with Diaspora. In such countries,
the importance is also attached, besides domestic resources, to the
external resources, represented by the Diaspora communities. The
latter has great potential - human, economic, political (as a means
for lobby), etc. - for any country.
The issue of using the potential of the Diaspora should not be
considered as simply receiving one-sided help from abroad, which
is based on national affiliations, i.e. as a sincere aspiration to
help your motherland and compatriots. The cooperation with Diaspora
is efficient only when it is based on mutually beneficial actions
directed to the solution of nationwide goals. It is not a mere chance
that recently expert community's interest in Diaspora studies has
grown in many countries.
Besides political, economic, cultural and other aspects, the
cooperation between the motherland and Diaspora is also crucial in the
aspect of academic and intellectual sphere in general because the role
of the intellectual potential in the success of the nations and states
can hardly be overestimated. This fact makes the issue of revelation,
consolidation, elaboration of ways of cooperation with the Diaspora
imperative for the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Some steps have already been taken in this direction. The all-Armenian
conferences in different fields (medicine, architecture, law, etc.)
organized by the Ministry of Diaspora of RA are remarkable. In this
context the All-Armenian Conference of Political Scientists and
International Relations Experts,organized by Ministry of Diaspora of
Armenia, YSU and "Noravank" Foundation in November 2012 is remarkable1.
Several research programmes directed to revealing of the national
intellectual potential have been carried out by the Ministry of
Diaspora and "Noravank" Foundation in recent years. These programmes
are "Armenians in Israel: Some Problems" (Yerevan, 2009)2, "Armenian
Community Information Resources in the Post-Soviet Countries"
(Yerevan, 2009)3, "The Identity Problems and Information Resources
of the Armenian Communities in the Post-Soviet Countries" (Yerevan,
2010)4, "The Issues of Self-Organization of the Armenian Communities
in the South Russia"(Yerevan, 2010)5, "Armenian Community in the USA"
(Yerevan, 2010)6, "Problems of the Armenian Communities in Eastern
Europe" (Yerevan, 2011)7.
Currently two research programmes are carried out: "Research and
Analytical Community in the Diaspora: Issues of Organization and
Prospects of Cooperation" and "Armenological Centers in the Diaspora:
Estimation of the Potential".
The goal of the first programme is revelation and counting of the
specialists in humanities of the Armenian descent and elaboration of
the ways of cooperation with the research and analytical community
in Armenia. The second programme is directed to the revelation of
potential of the Armenian Diaspora in the sphere of the Armenology
and its most effective use.
Revelation and counting of the intellectual potential of the
intellectual organizations or institutions are especially important
because while solving system problems group work is more efficient
than the individual. Mostly the Armenian Studies (Armenology) Centers
undertake the mission of intellectual institutions in the Diaspora.
There are dozens of such centers (Zorian Institute8, Haigazian
University9, Mkhitarian Congregation in Venice, etc.). They all
together form the main Armenian intellectual potential in the sphere
of Armenology.
The Armenology centers in the Diaspora, being of common Armenological
thematic scope, differ in other characteristics. For example, according
to the type of activity they can be of academic-educational, research,
analytical and other character, or they can have different sources
of funding.
As for the thematic scope, it should be mentioned that Armenology is
a broad academic field and it has its own directions and braches.
Correspondingly, general Armenologcial orientation does not imply
uniformity in the thematic scope of the Armenology centers. Some
centers have political orientation; the others study ethnography,
Diaspora studies, etc.
Until today studies of separate Armenology centers were carried out.
But there has been no comprehensive study of the Armenology centers
directed to the revelation and estimation of their potential. It will
be of great significance in the aspect of putting their activity on
more efficient and purposeful track, elaborating ways of cooperation,
strengthening ties with academic circles in Armenia, etc.
The study of the Armenology centers in the Diaspora from the academic
point of view solves two key problems - theoretical and practical,
which in their turn are divided into sub-problems.
In the theoretical aspect the study of the Armenology centers is
of introductory character and is mostly reduced to revealing and
estimation of their potential. In this context setting and solution
of the following main problems are singled out:
Drawing a list of Armenology centers mainly by means on web search;
Formation of a database about the centers by means of gathering and
systematization of the information from the web and other sources
(media, books, bulletins); Analysis of gathered information by means of
comparison and matching and other methods; Elaboration of a distinct
methodology of estimation of the Armenology centers' potential:
setting of estimation standards; Estimation of the potential of the
Armenology centers by means of the elaborated methodology.
In the practical aspect study of the Armenology centers in the Diaspora
implies the most effective use of the revealed and estimated potential
in the interests of the Republic of Armenia, NKR and Armeniancy.
Setting spheres, levels and goals of the core activity of the
Armenology centers in accordance with their potential; Elaboration
of ways of raising potential of the Armenology centers; Revelation
of common spheres of activity, goals and mechanisms.
Though the practical issue of raising effectiveness of the Diaspora's
Armenology centers implies serious academic researches and detailed
analysis, today a number of observations, which can become a guideline
for further studies, can be made.
It is referred to the spheres of studies the Armenology centers. By
their character these studies can be divided into three types:
educational, agitation and applied.
Educational researches are mainly concentrated on the issues of
Armenian history, Armenian philology, culture, ethnography and other
academic fields.
Agitation researches are mainly carried out in the sphere of Genocide
studies. Their goal is to introduce the tragedy of the Armenian
Genocide to the Armeniancy and world community. In these researches,
besides Genocide studies, other problems of the "Hay Dat" (Armenian
question) are also considered.
The researches of applied character are called to impact practical
policy, contributing to the resolution of the nationwide problems in
the practical plane.
Though the educational and agitation researches do not directly
impact practical policy, nevertheless they are not deprived of applied
character. In case with the researches of educational character, their
applicability in the Diaspora is connected with the preservation and
development of the Armenian identity, national self-consciousness
and culture. The applied aspect of the agitation researches in the
sphere of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well
as "Hay Dat" problems solution is in formation of the favourable
public opinion.
Accepting the importance of the researches of educational and agitation
character dominating in the activity of the Armenology centers in
Diaspora, it should be mentioned that the applied studies, which are
underestimated today, are of no less importance.
We suppose that the applied studies should be concentrated on topical
problems which are faced today by the Armeniancy, Rep. of Aremenia
and NKR. The applied task of these researches may become elaboration
of the practical ways of solution of these problems in case of timely
revelation of the causes and circumstances of their appearance.
We find it necessary to concentrate our attention on the following
problems:
"Hay Dat". In this sphere it is reasonable to concentrate the
researches on the elaboration of favorable political, legal and
other ways of solving of the issue of international recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, reclamation of damage10,
compensation and other issues.
Raising the blockade of Armenia. Here it is reasonable to study the
issues of choosing effective strategy and tactics, adequate means
of struggle against the blockade of the Rep. of Armenia and NKR by
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This issue also covers wide
range of problems - from containment of militarist policy of Azerbaijan
to the legal recognition of NKR's independence.
Programmes of development of the Rep. of Armenia and NKR11.
Social-economic, scientific and cultural, educational, demographic
development of two republics as well as their deep integration
are meant12. This sphere is of strategic importance because without
comprehensive development and integration the security of the Rep. of
Armenia and NKR will be seriously imperiled.
As for the first three points, the Armenology centers have wide
field of actions with the lobbyist organizations of the Diaspora
which did not receive the academic support of the Armenology centers
while struggling for the international recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide, raising the blockade of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Meanwhile, such a support can
considerably trigger the effectiveness of this struggle. As the result
of the activity of the lobbyist organizations and Armenology centers,
the latter can turn into a kind of "think tanks" of the Diaspora,
providing academic support to the lobbyist organizations' activity.
As for the programmes of development of the Rep. of Armenia and NKR
this issue provides wide field for cooperation with the authorities,
political powers as well as academic and analytical organizations in
the Rep. of Armenia and NKR.
1 See:
http://tert.am/am/news/2012/11/19/21-dari-martahraver-hamajoghov/
2 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/3.book.pdf
3 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/1.book.pdf
4 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/Hetkhorhrdayin Yerkrner.pdf
5 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/Haykakan hamainqner.pdf
6 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/USA_book.pdf
7 http://www.noravank.am/upload/book.pdf
8 http://www.zoryaninstitute.org/
9 http://www.haigazian.edu.lb/Default.aspx
10 E.g. the issue of reclamation of the expropriated church property;
See for details: Hovyan V. Issue for Reclamation of the Church Property
in Turkey. Globus, 2013, #1 (34), pp. 37-43 (in Armenian)
11 While speaking about the issues of development of the Rep. of
Armenia and NKR we should also remember about Javakhq which should not
stand apart from other regions of Armenia (Lori, Kotayk, Gegharkunik,
etc.) in the world perception of the Armeniancy.
12 The final goal of any integration is the uniting of the Rep. of
Armenia and NKR in one state formation and programmes should be aimed
on it.
"Globus" analytical journal, #9, 2013
Return ________________________________ Another materials of author
TURKEY ON THE THRESHOLD OF 2015[11.07.2013] SCHOOLS OF THE
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AND EXPERT POTENTIAL OF THE DIASPORA: ISSUES OF ASSESSMENT AND
ORGANIZATION[04.03.2013] THE GROUNDS OF INTER-CONFESSIONAL COOPERATION
IN THE DIASPORA[03.09.2012] CHRISTIANS IN TODAY'S TURKEY (Protestants
and Catholics) [24.05.2012] THE CLERICAL AND CHURCH ISSUES OF THE
ARMENIAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA[22.12.2011] CATHOLIC ARMENIANS
IN POLAND[17.10.2011] FORECASTS ON TURKEY'S FUTURE[15.09.2011] ON
THE ISSUES OF THE CATHOLICS ARMENIAN[09.06.2011] ARMENIAN CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA[24.12.2010]
08.10.2013
Arestakes Simavoryan Head of the Center for Armenian Studies,
"Noravank" Foudnation Vahram Hovyan Expert, Center for Armenian
Studies, "Noravank" Foundation
The issue of revelation and consolidation of the national potential
is peculiar for the countries with Diaspora. In such countries,
the importance is also attached, besides domestic resources, to the
external resources, represented by the Diaspora communities. The
latter has great potential - human, economic, political (as a means
for lobby), etc. - for any country.
The issue of using the potential of the Diaspora should not be
considered as simply receiving one-sided help from abroad, which
is based on national affiliations, i.e. as a sincere aspiration to
help your motherland and compatriots. The cooperation with Diaspora
is efficient only when it is based on mutually beneficial actions
directed to the solution of nationwide goals. It is not a mere chance
that recently expert community's interest in Diaspora studies has
grown in many countries.
Besides political, economic, cultural and other aspects, the
cooperation between the motherland and Diaspora is also crucial in the
aspect of academic and intellectual sphere in general because the role
of the intellectual potential in the success of the nations and states
can hardly be overestimated. This fact makes the issue of revelation,
consolidation, elaboration of ways of cooperation with the Diaspora
imperative for the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Some steps have already been taken in this direction. The all-Armenian
conferences in different fields (medicine, architecture, law, etc.)
organized by the Ministry of Diaspora of RA are remarkable. In this
context the All-Armenian Conference of Political Scientists and
International Relations Experts,organized by Ministry of Diaspora of
Armenia, YSU and "Noravank" Foundation in November 2012 is remarkable1.
Several research programmes directed to revealing of the national
intellectual potential have been carried out by the Ministry of
Diaspora and "Noravank" Foundation in recent years. These programmes
are "Armenians in Israel: Some Problems" (Yerevan, 2009)2, "Armenian
Community Information Resources in the Post-Soviet Countries"
(Yerevan, 2009)3, "The Identity Problems and Information Resources
of the Armenian Communities in the Post-Soviet Countries" (Yerevan,
2010)4, "The Issues of Self-Organization of the Armenian Communities
in the South Russia"(Yerevan, 2010)5, "Armenian Community in the USA"
(Yerevan, 2010)6, "Problems of the Armenian Communities in Eastern
Europe" (Yerevan, 2011)7.
Currently two research programmes are carried out: "Research and
Analytical Community in the Diaspora: Issues of Organization and
Prospects of Cooperation" and "Armenological Centers in the Diaspora:
Estimation of the Potential".
The goal of the first programme is revelation and counting of the
specialists in humanities of the Armenian descent and elaboration of
the ways of cooperation with the research and analytical community
in Armenia. The second programme is directed to the revelation of
potential of the Armenian Diaspora in the sphere of the Armenology
and its most effective use.
Revelation and counting of the intellectual potential of the
intellectual organizations or institutions are especially important
because while solving system problems group work is more efficient
than the individual. Mostly the Armenian Studies (Armenology) Centers
undertake the mission of intellectual institutions in the Diaspora.
There are dozens of such centers (Zorian Institute8, Haigazian
University9, Mkhitarian Congregation in Venice, etc.). They all
together form the main Armenian intellectual potential in the sphere
of Armenology.
The Armenology centers in the Diaspora, being of common Armenological
thematic scope, differ in other characteristics. For example, according
to the type of activity they can be of academic-educational, research,
analytical and other character, or they can have different sources
of funding.
As for the thematic scope, it should be mentioned that Armenology is
a broad academic field and it has its own directions and braches.
Correspondingly, general Armenologcial orientation does not imply
uniformity in the thematic scope of the Armenology centers. Some
centers have political orientation; the others study ethnography,
Diaspora studies, etc.
Until today studies of separate Armenology centers were carried out.
But there has been no comprehensive study of the Armenology centers
directed to the revelation and estimation of their potential. It will
be of great significance in the aspect of putting their activity on
more efficient and purposeful track, elaborating ways of cooperation,
strengthening ties with academic circles in Armenia, etc.
The study of the Armenology centers in the Diaspora from the academic
point of view solves two key problems - theoretical and practical,
which in their turn are divided into sub-problems.
In the theoretical aspect the study of the Armenology centers is
of introductory character and is mostly reduced to revealing and
estimation of their potential. In this context setting and solution
of the following main problems are singled out:
Drawing a list of Armenology centers mainly by means on web search;
Formation of a database about the centers by means of gathering and
systematization of the information from the web and other sources
(media, books, bulletins); Analysis of gathered information by means of
comparison and matching and other methods; Elaboration of a distinct
methodology of estimation of the Armenology centers' potential:
setting of estimation standards; Estimation of the potential of the
Armenology centers by means of the elaborated methodology.
In the practical aspect study of the Armenology centers in the Diaspora
implies the most effective use of the revealed and estimated potential
in the interests of the Republic of Armenia, NKR and Armeniancy.
Setting spheres, levels and goals of the core activity of the
Armenology centers in accordance with their potential; Elaboration
of ways of raising potential of the Armenology centers; Revelation
of common spheres of activity, goals and mechanisms.
Though the practical issue of raising effectiveness of the Diaspora's
Armenology centers implies serious academic researches and detailed
analysis, today a number of observations, which can become a guideline
for further studies, can be made.
It is referred to the spheres of studies the Armenology centers. By
their character these studies can be divided into three types:
educational, agitation and applied.
Educational researches are mainly concentrated on the issues of
Armenian history, Armenian philology, culture, ethnography and other
academic fields.
Agitation researches are mainly carried out in the sphere of Genocide
studies. Their goal is to introduce the tragedy of the Armenian
Genocide to the Armeniancy and world community. In these researches,
besides Genocide studies, other problems of the "Hay Dat" (Armenian
question) are also considered.
The researches of applied character are called to impact practical
policy, contributing to the resolution of the nationwide problems in
the practical plane.
Though the educational and agitation researches do not directly
impact practical policy, nevertheless they are not deprived of applied
character. In case with the researches of educational character, their
applicability in the Diaspora is connected with the preservation and
development of the Armenian identity, national self-consciousness
and culture. The applied aspect of the agitation researches in the
sphere of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well
as "Hay Dat" problems solution is in formation of the favourable
public opinion.
Accepting the importance of the researches of educational and agitation
character dominating in the activity of the Armenology centers in
Diaspora, it should be mentioned that the applied studies, which are
underestimated today, are of no less importance.
We suppose that the applied studies should be concentrated on topical
problems which are faced today by the Armeniancy, Rep. of Aremenia
and NKR. The applied task of these researches may become elaboration
of the practical ways of solution of these problems in case of timely
revelation of the causes and circumstances of their appearance.
We find it necessary to concentrate our attention on the following
problems:
"Hay Dat". In this sphere it is reasonable to concentrate the
researches on the elaboration of favorable political, legal and
other ways of solving of the issue of international recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, reclamation of damage10,
compensation and other issues.
Raising the blockade of Armenia. Here it is reasonable to study the
issues of choosing effective strategy and tactics, adequate means
of struggle against the blockade of the Rep. of Armenia and NKR by
Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This issue also covers wide
range of problems - from containment of militarist policy of Azerbaijan
to the legal recognition of NKR's independence.
Programmes of development of the Rep. of Armenia and NKR11.
Social-economic, scientific and cultural, educational, demographic
development of two republics as well as their deep integration
are meant12. This sphere is of strategic importance because without
comprehensive development and integration the security of the Rep. of
Armenia and NKR will be seriously imperiled.
As for the first three points, the Armenology centers have wide
field of actions with the lobbyist organizations of the Diaspora
which did not receive the academic support of the Armenology centers
while struggling for the international recognition and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide, raising the blockade of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Meanwhile, such a support can
considerably trigger the effectiveness of this struggle. As the result
of the activity of the lobbyist organizations and Armenology centers,
the latter can turn into a kind of "think tanks" of the Diaspora,
providing academic support to the lobbyist organizations' activity.
As for the programmes of development of the Rep. of Armenia and NKR
this issue provides wide field for cooperation with the authorities,
political powers as well as academic and analytical organizations in
the Rep. of Armenia and NKR.
1 See:
http://tert.am/am/news/2012/11/19/21-dari-martahraver-hamajoghov/
2 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/3.book.pdf
3 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/1.book.pdf
4 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/Hetkhorhrdayin Yerkrner.pdf
5 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/Haykakan hamainqner.pdf
6 http://www.noravank.am/upload/pdf/USA_book.pdf
7 http://www.noravank.am/upload/book.pdf
8 http://www.zoryaninstitute.org/
9 http://www.haigazian.edu.lb/Default.aspx
10 E.g. the issue of reclamation of the expropriated church property;
See for details: Hovyan V. Issue for Reclamation of the Church Property
in Turkey. Globus, 2013, #1 (34), pp. 37-43 (in Armenian)
11 While speaking about the issues of development of the Rep. of
Armenia and NKR we should also remember about Javakhq which should not
stand apart from other regions of Armenia (Lori, Kotayk, Gegharkunik,
etc.) in the world perception of the Armeniancy.
12 The final goal of any integration is the uniting of the Rep. of
Armenia and NKR in one state formation and programmes should be aimed
on it.
"Globus" analytical journal, #9, 2013
Return ________________________________ Another materials of author
TURKEY ON THE THRESHOLD OF 2015[11.07.2013] SCHOOLS OF THE
ARMENIAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN ISTANBUL[06.06.2013] ACADEMIC
AND EXPERT POTENTIAL OF THE DIASPORA: ISSUES OF ASSESSMENT AND
ORGANIZATION[04.03.2013] THE GROUNDS OF INTER-CONFESSIONAL COOPERATION
IN THE DIASPORA[03.09.2012] CHRISTIANS IN TODAY'S TURKEY (Protestants
and Catholics) [24.05.2012] THE CLERICAL AND CHURCH ISSUES OF THE
ARMENIAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA[22.12.2011] CATHOLIC ARMENIANS
IN POLAND[17.10.2011] FORECASTS ON TURKEY'S FUTURE[15.09.2011] ON
THE ISSUES OF THE CATHOLICS ARMENIAN[09.06.2011] ARMENIAN CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA[24.12.2010]