My turn, my take: Diaspora is not an Armenian political field.

Vahe H Apelian

Incidentally, I cropped the picture I posted  above from the cover of the book titled the same. Those interested may read my review of the book by pressing on the following links (see the notes below).

In my opinion there is an engrained misconstrued mindset about Armenia and Diaspora relationship in some segments of the Diaspora. There is no question that Diaspora Armenians’ concerns for Armenia and the Armenians in Armenia are genuine. However, when the very same concerns overstep and crosse the boundaries from humanitarian, historical, cultural or social ties and intrude into the doings of the Armenian government instituted by the citizens of Armenia, those very concerns become part and parcel of the politics in Armenia brought onto the Diaspora, where it has no recourse, other than fragmenting the Diaspora itself.

The ultimate measure of politics in Armenia, as well as in the U.S., is the vote cast in the ballot box by the citizens of Armenia as in the U.S., the votes cast by the citizens of the U.S.  Every Armenian has the birthright to become a citizen of Armenia and abide by the laws of Armenia and shape Armenia. But most of us have chosen to remain in the Diaspora and have opted not to exercise that birthright for reasons each one of us knows best and is accountable to no one else.

It is commendable of course that Diaspora identifies itself with Armenia. Woe to nation and may God forbid if it ceases to be so. Diaspora Armenians identifying themselves with Armenia and its citizens should be cared for and nurtured. 

 But there is a difference between cultural identification and political identification as all politics is local, famously attributed to Thomas O'Neill. Cultural identification, on the other hand, knows no bounds. Cultural identification stems from our shared historical experiences that have been transmitted to us and even experienced by  us or some of us and shared among us. After all, those cultural and historical ties unite us more than anything else. 

But political identification is an altogether different matter. It is a false narrative to claim that Diaspora’s political identification with Armenia stems from its concerns for its cultural and historical ties. It simply cannot be because political identification has its norms, structures and laws and regulations that govern the political process and is, as said, local. We all know that the Diaspora Armenians cannot be part of Armenia’s political process. But we may of course and should be, part of a Diaspora political process whose goals are different than Armenia’s and entail such issue assimilation, preservation of the Armenian culture and language and surely does not entail the cross road for peace Armenia’s initiative, if not the strategy. Both, Armenia’s and Diaspora’s political processes, naturally have in mind the welfare of the Armenians. But each process is driven differently and has its own tempo. 

I became reflective of Diaspora overstepping into Armenia’s political process this past week, during the Archbishop Pagrad leading the "Tavush for the Homeland" movement. Reading the uncalled for adjectives, segments of the Diaspora hurled at the prime minister Nikol Pachinyan and the government he led, and another segment hurling similar adjectives  at the archbishop and the movement he led. I realized even more, that Diaspora is fragmenting itself. After all, no society is fragmented from outside, but from inside. Historians claim that it is not outside forces that caused the demise of  the powerful Roman Empire. It was the Romans themselves.  How about the mighty Soviet Union. Did it not implode?

‘There was a time when “Armenianhood”- haygaganoutiun, or "Armenianness" - hayoutiun,  was presented as a mythical bird whose one wing is Armenia and the other Diaspora. I remember Zori Balayan bringing it often as an example. The fact of the matter is that, much like any other mythical creature, that mythical Armenian bird with one wing Armenia and the other Diaspora, also did not exist, although we kept referring to it.

The more appropriate depiction of "Armenian-hood" / "Armenianness" is Armenia and Diaspora as the two members as the same family who have moved on and away from each and each is charting its courses in life. Surely, they share the family legacy and may attend to each other financially, culturally, morally and otherwise, such as with well wishes. But they surely should not meddle in each other's affairs, and especially let the other know how to best run his or her affairs. That simply does not work, but tears the family apart. 

Note: 

We Are All Armenians - Voices from Diaspora - 1

 http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/05/voices-from-diaspora-12_17.htm

We Are All Armenians - Voices from Diaspora - 2

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/05/ix-x-xi_14.html