Hratch Tchilingirian
In
recent years a new discourse on “global Armenians” is increasingly
becoming part of an effort of constructing a post-Genocide Armenian
identity in the Diaspora — and Armenia. These new identity shapers seem
to advocate a transition from “survival mentality” to celebration of
life and success. One definition was provided in a full-page letter
published in The New York Times (28 October 2016),
according to which a “global Armenian” is someone, who despite having
“forcibly displaced and dispersed” ancestry, lives “across the world”
and has made or is making “major contributions toward advancing their
adoptive countries.”[1] Such “global Armenians” include scientists,
doctors, engineers and inventors making contributions to societies in
their countries; politicians, ministers and diplomats serving in
different countries; movie stars, sportsmen, bankers and corporate
executives; and, of course, celebrities who have millions of followers
on social networks. In short, a “global Armenian” is someone who is
professionally successful, has an impact in their field, and has public
visibility or recognition.
One of the stated main goals of this prescriptive “global Armenianism” is “to transform the post-Soviet Armenian Republic into a vibrant, modern, secure, peaceful and progressive homeland for a global nation.” This is, indeed, a vision that many in Armenia and the Diaspora dream about. Of course, there are others who use the term “global Armenian” as a descriptive term or as synonym for dispersion.[2]
