Moving Forward or Aside?Last Chance for

Directionless Diaspora(s)

byViken L. Attarian

Presented at the 2nd Annual Forum of Policy Forum Armenia

Washington, DC March 1, 2010

The Diasporan Reality

A definition of the Diaspora(s)A diagnosis Five interlinked crises

The crisis of identityThe crisis of languageAnti-intellectualismDisinformationThe crisis of legitimacy

Consequences of the crises

A misdistribution of rolesSupremacy of mediocrityLinguistic and intellectual obfuscation“Apoliticization”False myths as realityComplete inability to enable structural change in Armenia

For whom the bell tolls?

The Armenia-Turkey Protocols are essentially the final toll of the bell.

Either the Diaspora(s) wake up to their impotence and choose to move forward or they have to step aside.

Positive News?

Unprecedented rays of hopeArmenia and its potential

Potential to create a transnational ethosPotential to redefine a new identity spacePotential to mobilize a state apparatus to “save” the Diasporas

The contribution of the InternetAbility to express opinionAbility to publishAbility to cooperateAbility to connect with ArmeniaAbility to learn exponentially

Projects for a Diaspora refusing to move aside

The Global Time Capsule ProjectThe Armenian Genius FundThe Global Genocide Centennial Commemoration Postal Stamp ProjectThe “Save Western Armenian” ProjectThe Diaspora MinistryThe Diaspora Global Representative Body