Every country has a unique culture and no matter where its citizens go in the world, they take their cultural heritage and national identity with them. It does not matter who they are, why they leave, or where they settle, they can never entirely break the connection they have with their homeland. Understanding one’s cultural heritage and the impact it has on everyday life is an integral part of the diaspora experience and identity.
With the intention of filling a critical knowledge gap, the Armenian Diaspora Project has published the results of its comprehensive Armenian Diaspora Survey (ADS). The research provides community leaders, policymakers, and scholars with information about the attitudes, issues, and trends shaping Armenian communities around the world and improves their understanding of the diverse aspects of diasporic life in the 21st century. To find out more, please visit https://www.armeniandiasporasurvey.com
During their comprehensive survey, researchers asked 12,000 Armenians in more than fifty diaspora communities in ten countries to provide their views and opinions on questions of identity, language, culture, community, political engagement, and relations with the Republic of Armenia.
“The Armenian diaspora is multifaceted, complex, and geographically spread around the world. Yet, the main subject around which virtually all themes in diasporic life orbit is ‘Armenian identity’”, said ADS director Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian of University of Oxford.
The survey found that the Armenian diaspora identity is largely self-defined, fluid, and personalized. They highlight how it is evolving in different environments, depending on multiple variables, such as upbringing, community, lifestyle, education, and personal experiences. Even individuals living in the same country, state, or city have different perceptions, opinions, and understanding of what it means to be Armenian.
The study also looked at the impact and contribution of Armenians in countries around the world, focusing on how they become part of the social fabric and help their host countries move forward. This makes the survey a useful tool for anyone wanting to learn more about the experiences and stories of the Armenian diaspora.
“We are pleased that this systematic survey that covers a vast geography of the Armenian Diaspora has been successfully completed and the results are published,” said Dr. Razmik Panossian, Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Armenian Communities Department. “Understanding the Diaspora is a crucial part of our mandate to support Armenian Studies globally. We look forward to building on this research and enhancing its impact on policy development.”
The Armenian Diaspora Survey, funded by the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and carried out under the auspices of the Armenian Institute in London, took place in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
The initial survey was carried out in Argentina, Lebanon, Montreal, and Romania in 2019. In 2021, the survey continued in Belgium, Paris, the UK, and Rostov on Don. In 2022, the ADS survey was conducted in both the United States and Ontario, Canada. The results of this survey have been made publicly available and can now be easily downloaded for free from the ADS website.
If you wish to see the results, download the complete reports for free at https://www.armeniandiasporasurvey.com
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