States and Their Diasporas

Abstract In assessing the emerging role of diasporas in contemporary international relations, several states have established state structures to engage with their diasporas and develop special policies related to them. This article addresses the creation of such a policy, using the example of Soviet Armenia’s relations with the Armenian diaspora, highlighting the setup of institutions tasked to work with that diaspora, the main directions of this activity, and policy changes regarding the Armenian diaspora. The article demonstrates that by developing connections with the diaspora the Soviet authorities aimed above all to enhance the prestige of the Soviet Union abroad, especially in countries with substantial diasporic Armenian populations. Paradoxically, the ties they forged also facilitated the establishment and growth of institutional relations between the Soviet Republic of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora, leading to a significant increase in, and the pursuit of, activities related to specifically Armenian national and cultural identity.