Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union, and with the independence of Armenia and its newly-opened borders, relations between the "Mother-homeland" and the diaspora are changing. The willingness of the Republic of Armenia to increase its institutional connections with Europe (it has been a member of the Council of Europe since 2001) is assisted by the existence of well-integrated communities. The country’s interest in Europe is also part of its being rooted in a world with which, individually and collectively, it has shared a part of its history.

The 1988 earthquake Earthquake of 1988
On 7 December 1988, Armenia was devastated by a strong earthquake, which registered 6.9 on the Richter scale. The disaster left an estimated 25,000 dead (and possibly as much as 45,000), and 500,000 homeless. and the Haut-Karabakh Conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh
On 20 February 1988, the Soviet of Nagorno-Karabakh, invoking the right to self-determination of its peoples and historical legitimacy (at the time of the creation of the Soviet federation, Stalin had included Karabakh within the borders of Azerbaijan), voted to attached to Armenia, the Autonomous Region whose population was over 80% Armenians, but included in the neighbouring rival republic of Soviet Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh vote triggered anti-Armenian pogroms, and then open conflict until 1994. The fate of the region – currently under negotiation with international mediation – remains settled. It is one of the major elements of the nationalities crisis that led to the breakup of the Soviet Union. On 21 September 1991, Armenia declared independence following a referendum. The war that led to a blockade of its western borders with Turkey, the disastrous and unresolved consequences of the earthquake and the cutting of economic ties with the former Soviet zone, has created a difficult economic situation and high unemployment. conflict, have had disastrous consequences for Armenians. They have also suffered the effects of the Soviet Union’s implosion and the dismantling of some Armenian communities, particularly in Georgia and Azerbaijan. This has resulted in new waves of emigration towards Russia, Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania and Bulgaria) and Western Europe. Today, some 2,500,000 Armenians live in Russia, 100,000 have emigrated to Poland, and 30,000 have moved to Greece, joining the 12,000 who already live there.

The unexpected emergence of an independent Armenia has upset many realities of diaspora life. The entire diaspora took part in rebuilding regions devastated by the earthquake and Armenia in general. This led to the creation of new structures and associations whose actions are focused on Armenia, but also on the modernization of traditional structures. This trend has affected every one of Europe’s Armenian communities, albeit on various scales. France, which hosts the largest (some 350,000-500,000) and most well-organized community in Europe, can serve as an example. At the dawn of the 21st century, the Great Diaspora is entering – still somewhat tentatively – an era of new networks, new exchanges and new orders.

Use the links below to learn more about the museums of the Armenian Diaspora :

- in France
Centre du patrimoine arménien

- in Portugal
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

- in the US
Ararat-Eskijian Museum
Armenian Library and Museum of America