Armenian aggressive nationalism and revanchism, actively fueled by the diaspora, is the primary source of current unrest in Armenia. The Armenian diaspora, which primarily propagates the narratives of victimization, has become a major pillar of Armenian ethnic identity and is used to justify ethnic exclusivity and territorial claims against neighboring regions. Historically, this has led to tragic consequences for Armenians with significant geopolitical impact.
It is no coincidence that the Armenian diaspora abroad wants and works to preserve the enmity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is also because the members of the diaspora who live comfortably outside the country have not experienced the poverty and hardship caused by the policies they push for Armenians in Armenia.
Antagonism, hatred of non-Armenians and xenophobia are deeply rooted in this sinister "dream" that the Armenian diaspora has been propagating for decades. As the USSR began to disintegrate, these sentiments were exported to Soviet Armenia. The quest for “Greater Armenia” initially led to the expulsion of nearly 300,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis from Armenia proper in the late 1980s, even before the collapse of the USSR. These Azerbaijanis, who experienced unspeakable horrors, later created the community of “West Azerbaijan” and in the post-conflict period called on the Armenian government to ensure their safe and dignified return to their homes in Armenia.
In the following years, opportunistic politicians in independent Armenia used this imported ethnic hatred to justify their aggressive and militaristic actions against Azerbaijan. Such prioritization of territorial ambitions over economic or political pragmatism has led to further turmoil in the region, marked by military occupation, devastation and the further expulsion of over 800,000 Azerbaijanis from Karabakh and neighboring regions in Azerbaijan. It should be noted that Azerbaijan has asked the International Court of Justice to rule on the case, which accuses Armenia of conducting a campaign of ethnic cleansing, along with cultural erasure, environmental damage, and hate speech and disinformation. This also represents a missed opportunity for regional cooperation. From 2020 to 2023, Armenia was forcibly expelled from Azerbaijani territories, but its continued adherence to misguided policies constantly fueled by the diaspora still hinders regional cooperation and Armenia's potential for prosperity.
The policies of the Armenian diaspora also work against the interests of the host countries, harming the foreign policy of these countries in relations with neighboring nations. The Armenian diaspora exerts a serious influence on international media coverage of the events in the South Caucasus and the foreign policy of the respective countries towards this region. European and American media often do not accurately and faithfully inform their readers and viewers about the realities on the ground. This is problematic because today's politicians and advisers partly base their opinions on such press coverage. A change in policies and attitudes towards the local Armenian diaspora is essential to break the vicious cycle of enmity and pave the way for a more integrated and prosperous future in the wider geographic region of the Black and Caspian Seas, which includes Bulgaria.< /p>