Introduction: The Republic of Armenia, Migration, and Diaspora in Times of Threat and Uncertainty

Abstract

First paragraph: This inter-disciplinary collection of articles focuses on the Republic of Armenia and migration. The articles explore aspects of and attitudes towards migration from and to Armenia among people born in the present-day republic and its Soviet predecessor, diasporan Armenians, and others. Together, the articles highlight the complexity of (trans)national belonging in an unpredictable, fast-changing context of multiple wars and security threats that have reinforced certain identities and associated historical connections over others. Additionally, the articles contribute to the discussion of South-South and predominantly diasporan migration in a less-studied, post-Soviet context. The circumstances and perspectives highlighted differ substantially from many European analyses of South-North migration that assume entrenched differences between migrant and host societies, and that must navigate political narratives of migration ‘crisis’ (Fiddian-Qasmiyeh 2020). The first part of this introduction aims to familiarize the reader with the complex and volatile Armenian context through an explanation of how this special issue came about. It goes on to address the central questions and themes raised by the articles included in more detail.