CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS OF CENTERS FOR ARMENIAN STUDIES ABROAD
07.04.2014
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.
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“Globus” analytical journal, #3, 2014
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From: Baghdasarian
http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=12654
http://www.yerkramas.org/2011/10/19/v-universitete-tegerana-otkroetsya-kafedra-armenovedeniya/
http://www.panarmenian.net/rus/society/news/53666/
http://news.mail.ru/society/arc676658/
http://mediagid.am/ru/news/v-nizhnem-novgorode-otkrilsya-centr-armenovedeniya-503054
http://www.panarmenian.net/rus/details/44753/