Vahram Hovyan 

Expert, Centre for the Armenian Studies, Noravank Foundation

Centers for Armenian Studies are structures that conduct scientific research and/or higher education activities related to Armenian language, history, culture, politics, as well as generally to Armenia and Armeniancy. There are approximately 70-80 such institutions outside Armenia.

 

Centers for Armenian Studies are either separate institutions or divisions of broader institutions. Individual institutions usually belong to the Armenian diaspora. Examples of such structures are Zoryan Institute (USA), the Mekhitarist Order (Vienna, Venice), etc.

 

Centers that are part of larger institutions can be divided in two categories according to their affiliation. One category would consist of those being part of larger Armenian structures. For example, the Department of Armenian Studies at Haigazian University in Beirut is one of such centers. The second category would include centers for Armenian Studies, which are not part of the Armenian structures. These are mostly departments/chairs of Armenian Studies at various universities (for example, the Institute of Armenian Studies at the University of Southern California, the Chair in Modern Armenian History and Literature at Boston University, the Program of Armenian Studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, etc.). These were established and act within various university departments. For instance, the Program of Armenian Studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem is implemented in its Institute of Oriental Studies, the Center for Armenian Studies at State University of Nizhni Novgorod is within the Faculty of International Studies, and the one at Cairo University is part of the Faculty of Arts. Remarkably, the departments of Armenian Studies in foreign higher education institutions often start out as courses, and then develop over time to become serious centers.

 

Establishment of centers for Armenian Studies abroad is often facilitated by the following circumstances:

 

1. Interest toward Armenian studies in foreign countries1.

 

2. Efforts of the Armenian diaspora aimed at preserving the Armenian identity in foreign countries.

 

3. Efforts of Armenia aimed at preserving the Armenian identity in diaspora, developing Armenian studies abroad, and spreading Armenian culture and civilization around the world.

 

Recent diplomatic contacts of the RoA and external communcation of Armenia’s scientific/educational institutions have resulted in establishment of chairs of Armenian studies in higher education institutions abroad. For instance, during the meeting of rectors of Yerevan State University and Tehran University in October 2011, an agreement was reached to found a chair of Armenian studies at Tehran University2. After completing his mission in Armenia in September 2010, A. Bozhko, Ukraine’s former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia and an expert in Armenian studies, promised to make efforts for establishing a chair of Armenian studies in Kiev University3. Another important example is the initiative to open a department of Armenian studies at the University of Connecticut within the framework of Armenian-American cooperation in higher education4. Thus, diplomatic relations of Armenia and inter-institutional cooperation between Armenian and foreign higher education institutions are presently crucial for increasing the number of centers for Armenian studies and spreading these studies around the world.

 

The Role of Centers for Armenian Studies Abroad

 

Centers for Armenian studies in foreign countries implement educational and research functions and have a certain role and significance in the life of Armeniancy. Among these roles the following four are worth mentioning:

 

Firstly, through their operations they contribute to preserving Armeniancy in diaspora. Along with the churches, schools, press and other structures the centers of Armenian studies are institutions that consolidate Armenians in the communities abroad and bring knowledge pertinent to their national identity. Many young Armenians study at the departments of Armenian studies at various foreign universities, this way learning the Armenian language and getting to know about Armenian history, literature and culture. This reinforces national self-consciousness among the diaspora Armenians and helps preserve their Armenian roots. In the modern era of globalization the assimilation processes accelerate, so in diaspora “not only culture, but also science should contribute to preserving the national identity and traditions”5.

 

Secondly, the centers for Armenian studies abroad are important for Armeniancy in terms of spreading the Armenian civilization in the world. These centers are, so to speak, agents for creating and spreading knowledge about Armenian language, culture, the Armenians and Armenia in foreign countries. Through their activities the foreigners learn about the values of Armenian civilization, as well as problems that Armenians and Armenia are concerned about, because not only Armenians, but also foreigners take classes at the departments for Armenian studies at foreign universities.

 

Thirdly, it is the importance of developing the Armenian studies per se. With clear orientation towards the field, these centers make a considerable contribution to the development of the Armenian studies, whether intended or not. In this respect the role of Mekhitarist Order, the Department of Armenian Studies at Haigazian University in Beirut and other institutions is invaluable.

 

Fourthly, in the current situation with information warfare it is critical to repel and counter the Turkish and Azeri encroachments against the Armenian history, culture and anything else. This relatively new direction is one of the most important tasks for the Armenian studies6.

 

The Objectives of the Centers for Armenian Studies

 

At present the centers for Armenian studies abroad face very serious problems and challenges, which not only create barriers to their normal work, but even threaten their very existence. The first serious challenge is represented by financial problems. Centers for Armenian studies abroad are financed mostly from Armenian sources, i.e. diaspora and Armenia. Neither diaspora, nor Armenia have unlimited resources, especially that diaspora also has to resolve scores of other issues that require considerable funds, such as financing the schools, cultural establishments, churches, press and lobbying activities. Hence, due to scarcity of funds some centers for Armenian studies abroad have even found themselves under a threat of closing down7.

 

Another important challenge that centers for Armenian studies in foreign countries face is related to human resources. Quite often these center are unable to function properly due to the lack of necessary specialists and become idle, consequently facing a shutdown of operations.

 

The lack of scientific/research and educational materials also represents a serious problem. Located far away from Armenia, centers for Armenian studies in foreign countries often encounter the issue of shortage in textbooks, necessary literature, documents, archived and other materials.

 

Understandably, the financial problem is the main challenge, as the other ones often stem from it. The lack of funds makes it very difficult for the centers of Armenian studies to keep their specialists, attract new ones, procure necessary literature and materials.

 

Cooperation Opportunities

 

Obviously, without cooperation with Armenia it would be very hard for the centers for Armenian studies in foreign countries to increase effectiveness of their work. The structures in Armenia that cooperate with them are mostly government agencies (Ministry of Diaspora, Ministry of Education and Science, etc.) and scientific/educational institutions (Yerevan State University, the National Academy of Sciences, etc.).

 

The Republic of Armenia with its scant means has been able to offer some financial assistance to the centers of Armenian studies abroad, to a possible extent. However, it is clear that resolving this issue is largely related to the economic development of Armenia with consequent increase of financing capabilities.

 

Armenia’s economic development is out of the scope of this article. Therefore, we shall briefly mention some other ways of collaboration. These include methodological support, provision of educational and research materials, cooperative research, joint conferences, etc.

 

1 This is especially evident in countries with well-developed science that have interests related to Armenia and Armeniancy. These are leading countries in the world and our region, such as the USA, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, etc. On such basis the centers for Armenian studies are typically set up as university departments.

 

2 В университете Тегерана откроется кафедра арменоведения, http://www.yerkramas.org/2011/10/19/v-universitete-tegerana-otkroetsya-kafedra-armenovedeniya/

 

3 В Государственном университете Киева будет открыта кафедра арменоведения, http://www.panarmenian.net/rus/society/news/53666/

 

4 Университет Коннектикута откроет кафедру арменоведения, http://news.mail.ru/society/arc676658/

 

5 В Нижнем Новгороде открылся Центр арменоведения, http://mediagid.am/ru/news/v-nizhnem-novgorode-otkrilsya-centr-armenovedeniya-503054

 

6 Սուվարյան Յ., Հայագիտության արդի վիճակը Հայաստանում և զարգացման հիմնախնդիրները, Հայագիտական միջազգային երկրորդ համաժողով. «Հայագիտությունը և արդի ժամանակաշրջանի մարտահրավերները»։ Լիագումար նիստի զեկուցումներ, Եր., ՀՀ ԳԱԱ «Գիտություն» հրատարակչություն, 2013, էջ 29։

 

7 See for example, Вопрос существования отдела арменоведения германского "Freie Universitat Berlin" никак не удается решить, http://www.panarmenian.net/rus/details/44753/

 

“Globus” analytical journal, #3, 2014

 

 

 

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