The Armenians: A Handbook (Caucasus World. Peoples of the Caucasus)

A comprehensive introduction to the historical forces and recent social and political developments that have shaped today's Armenian people. With contributions from leading Armenian, American and European specialists, the book focuses on identity formation, exploring how the Armenians' perceptions of themselves and their place in the world are informed by their history, culture and present-day situation. The book also covers contemporary politics, economy and society, and relates these to ongoing debates over future directions for the Armenian people, both in the homeland and in the diaspora communities. The Armenians considers how the Armenian people have constructed their identity through the accumulation of historical experience and shared collective memory. The book takes the reader through the complex and often bloody historical events that the people of Armenia have experienced and tracks the evolution of their culture and politics up to their current situation as a small post-communist country poised between Europe and the Middle East and linked to a kaleidoscope of emigrant Armenian communities spread across the globe.The Armenians are one of the oldest nations in existence, privileged to have one of the world's most stable and persistent identities. The quality of 'Armenianness' has proved to be so resilient that it has endured for 2,000 years, even though in that time the Armenian people have been compelled to resist invasion, suffer persecution, tolerate alien rule and take desperate measures to escape, including several mass emigrations that led to global dispersion. They even managed to survive the twentieth century's first large-scale genocide. In The Armenians a distinguished international team of social scientists seeks to explain how such confidence in a national identity came about, how it crystallized, and what Armenians today feel that they have derived from their spectacular past. The book pays considerable attention to the 1990s and 2000s, when post-Soviet Armenia has been building its independence, its political system, and its new economy and society. The book ends with an analysis of how the Armenian self-image has responded to the many challenges and contradictions thrown up by this rich store of experience.The Armenians provides a comprehensive introduction to both the historical forces and the recent social and political developments that have shaped today's Armenian people. With contributions from leading Armenian, American and European specialists, it sets out the themes and issues of contemporary research in the history and social science of this distinctive people. The authors include Richard G. Hovannisian, James R. Russell and Ronald G. Suny. The Armenians Considers How The Armenian People Have Constructed Their Identity Through The Accumulation Of Historical Experience And Shared Collective Memory. The Book Takes The Reader Through The Complex And Often Bloody Historical Events That The People Of Armenia Have Experienced And Tracks The Evolution Of Their Culture And Politics Up To Their Current Situation As A Small Post-communist Country Poised Between Europe And The Middle East And Linked To A Kaleidoscope Of Emigrant Armenian Communities Spread Across The Globe. The Armenians Provides A Comprehensive Introduction To Both The Historical Forces And Recent Social And Political Developments That Have Shaped Today's Armenian People. With Contributions From Leading Armenian, American And European Specialists, It Sets Out The Themes And Issues Of Contemporary Research In The History And Social Science Of This Distinctive People.--jacket. Armenia And The Armenians / Marina Kurkchiyan And Edmund Herzig -- Early Armenian Civilization / James R. Russell -- Christianity To Modernity / Boghos Levon Zekiyan -- Into The Modern Age, 1800-1913 / Aram Arkun -- Genocide And Independence, 1914-21 / Richard G. Hovannisian -- Soviet Armenia, 1921-91 / Ronald Grigor Suny -- Armenians In Diaspora / Susan P. Pattie -- Karabagh Conflict / Marina Kurkchiyan -- Politics In Independent Armenia / Edmunc Herzig -- Media And Democracy In Armenia / Mark Grigorian -- Economic And Social Development / Astghik Mirzakhanyan -- Society In Transition / Marina Kurkchiyan -- Homeland-diaspora Relations And Identity Differences / Razmik Panossian. Edited By Edmund Herzig And Marina Kurkchiyan. Simultaneously Published In The Usa And Canada. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Interdisciplinary Studies Book Cover 1 Title 3 Contents 4 Maps 9 Contributors 10 Transliteration and names 11 Acknowledgements 12 Introduction: Armenia and the Armenians 13 Early Armenian civilization 35 Christianity to modernity 53 Into the modern age, 1800-1913 77 Genocide and independence, 1914-21 101 Soviet Armenia, 1921-91 125 Armenians in diaspora 138 The Karabagh conflict: from Soviet past to post-Soviet uncertainty 159 Politics in independent Armenia 178 Media and democracy in Armenia 192 Economic and social development 208 Society in transition 223 Homeland-diaspora relations and identity differences 241 Index 256