Institute of Armenian Studies

The laboratory is the only center dealing with the problems of historical geography and cartography of the republic. The research and cartographic works carried out by the employees of the laboratory - books, articles, atlases and maps - are of not only scientific, but also political significance for our republic. To combine theoretical and practical research, in 2023, The Laboratory of Historical Geography and Cartography of Armenia named after B. Harutyunyan has merged with the Research Department of Issues in the History of Armenian Statehood.

The combination of different sciences is emphasized in laboratory research. At the core of these works is interdisciplinarity, a complex interdisciplinary synthesis of history, international relations, geography, cartography and informatics.

In the laboratory, work is also carried out in the direction of the study of current issues, in particular, the problems of national economic policy and regional uneven development. The works aimed at the study of the history of Armenian diplomacy and modern information technologies are also among the conducted research.

The activities of the department of Strategic Research of YSU adjacent countries and near foreign countries are aimed at solving the below-mentioned problems:

• to research the security, military-political, social, religious-cultural, and economic environment formed in the regions adjacent to Armenia,
• to assess and predict external challenges and threats to RA and Nagorno-Karabakh,
• to outline and justify the preferred foreign policy guidelines for Armenia in the context of Armenia's bilateral and multilateral cooperation with neighboring and close foreign states.

The Department of Strategic Research of the countries adjacent to Armenia and near abroad aims to target research the problems that have not been researched so far, to raise questions of scientific and applied significance, to combine various approaches, as a result of which the scientific research product created will be intended for consumption by professional, expert communities, state and related bodies.

The department's research works are carried out in the following directions:

• Analysis of historical and political foundations and preconditions of Armenian-Russian relations. This research direction provides an opportunity to reveal the origins of the establishment of relations between the Armenian people and the Russian state, as well as to analyze the historical conditions that deeply contributed to the formation of foreign political preferences and priorities in the approaches of prominent representatives of the Armenian people. One of the most important components of the studies is the problem of transformations of the foreign policy of the first republic of Armenia and conducting comparisons in the context of modern challenges.
• Ways to increase the effectiveness of modern Armenian-Russian military-political relations. In this direction, the analysis of the military-political components of the national security concepts of the two countries is the subject of research. Special attention is paid to the prospects of the rearming of the RA armed forces, the supply of modern weapons and the development of the military industry in the Republic of Armenia.
• Prospects for the development of modern Armenian-Russian trade and economic relations. The research carried out in this direction is aimed at revealing the role and significance of Russian capital in the process of establishment of Armenian statehood. The trends in the development of modern trade and economic ties within the framework of the EAEU are analyzed, as well as the issues regarding the transformation of the socio-economic relations between the two countries in the conditions of the restrictions applied by the Western states against the Russian Federation due to the Ukrainian crisis.
• Defining the degree of participation of the Russian Federation in the geopolitical processes unfolding in the South Caucasus. This group of fundamental issues includes research aimed at revealing the interests of both Russia and other world power centers in the region. The commonalities of historically formed interests of Armenia and Russia in the complex South Caucasus region are pointed out, as well as the role of Armenia in ensuring Russia's political presence in the entire Middle East is evaluated.
• Analysis of the processes taking place in the modern political system of the Russian Federation. The research carried out in this direction aims to evaluate the role of political parties, as well as non-governmental organizations in the public life of the Russian Federation. Much space is devoted to studies on the current level of public relations, as well as on the social structure.
• Analysis of the course and possible consequences of the special military operation carried out by Russia in Ukraine. This relatively new direction of studies is because the mentioned conflict can have fatal consequences for both the post-Soviet area and the whole world. Among the goals of this research group are:

to clarify the root causes of the ongoing conflict between the two peoples who have been friends for centuries,

analyze the entire course of military conflicts, pointing out possible developments,

to reveal the connection between the Ukrainian crisis and the aspirations to transform the world order formed in recent decades.

The RA National Security Research and Forecasting Group has a number of functions related to the analysis and forecasting of the country's security situation, which particularly include:

• Collection and analysis of information. The group collects and analyzes information about threats affecting the RA security environment, which may include gathering information from various sources, such as international reports, analytical reports, open sources, social media, etc. The main threats and challenges facing RA are the unresolved conflict of Nagorno Karabakh, security risks arising from neighboring countries, the public's perception of misinformation and media literacy, the campaign to damage the image of RA in the international arena, the risk of terrorist attacks, cyber attacks, economic security, demographic challenges, energy, water security, the invulnerability of borders, protection of critical infrastructures, etc.
• Analysis of threats and risks. The group analyzes the received information to determine the most important threats and risks to Armenia's national security. The analysis can be useful in mitigating future risks and threats.
• Assessment of existing threats. The group conducts current national security threat assessments to identify critical vulnerabilities, which may include threat analysis from other states, international organizations, terrorist groups, and other actors.
• Predictions. The group is engaged in forecasting various events and trends that may affect Armenia's security environment, and based on them, develops strategies and action plans aimed at preventing possible threats.
• Monitoring of events. The group will monitor various events and incidents that may affect the country's security environment, including internal events, political changes in other states, economic upheavals, etc.
• Creation of probable scenarios and development of an early warning system. The group can develop different scenarios to determine the possible risks and threats that will arise in the future and inform the competent authorities about them in advance.
• Analysis of military threats. The group can analyze military risks that are a threat to Armenia's national security. The analysis may also include assessing the military strength of neighboring states, international conflicts, and the likelihood of military aggression by other states.
• Submission of proposals. The group will submit proposals to the competent state authorities, which will contribute to the improvement of the internal and external security situation of RA and ensure predictability in the long term.
• Cooperation and coordination. The group will collaborate with other government agencies and departments to ensure coordination and sharing of information on national security issues. It is also planned to cooperate with other countries and international organizations to exchange experience and information.
• Preparation of reports and workbooks. The group will prepare various reports, and official workbooks, which will contain analyses and forecasts related to Armenia's national security. These reports can be used by government authorities to make decisions about the country's security.

The aforementioned works of applied significance are carried out in conjunction with fundamental research works. Scientific research works (monographs, scientific articles) are published in the mentioned context.

The activities of the RA-PRC, RA-India relations, and strategic research department of YSU RA are aimed at solving the below-mentioned problems:

• to research the military-political, social, religious-cultural, and economic environment formed in the context of RA-PRC and RA-India relations,
• to assess and predict external challenges and threats to RA and NK,
• to outline and justify the preferred foreign policy guidelines for Armenia in the context of Armenia's bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the People's Republic of China and India.

The RA-PRC, RA-India relations, and strategic research department aim to highlight and target unexplored problems and the combination of various approaches, as a result of which the scientific research product created will be intended for consumption by professional, expert communities, state, and related bodies.

The department publishes scientific (monographs, scientific articles) and expert research, which have theoretical and practical significance, considering the current issues of RA-PRC, and RA-India relations.

The "Laboratory of Anti-Armenian Propaganda Discourse Research" basic program (scientific mentor: distinguished figure of science, correspondent member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, professor S. K. Gasparyan) started based on the Chair of English Philology of the Faculty of European Languages and Communication of YSU with funding from the RA state budget. Since 2021, it has been transferred to the YSU Institute of Armenian Studies, where it continues its activities.

The relevance of the program is determined by important questions, the clarification of which is highly relevant, especially from the perspective of the trends in the development of modern linguistic, legal, and historical-cultural thought and geopolitical developments. Through a comprehensive study of the peculiarities of language use, it aims to examine the foreign language materials in active circulation, carrying out an anti-Armenian propaganda mission (in particular, English, German, French: printed and online), to highlight the linguistic patterns regularly used in them, with the help of which the authors "succeed" to distort the facts and realities, to form anti-Armenian sentiments and evaluations, towards which a loyal position can create serious challenges and dangers for the Armenian state and statehood, to undermine the international perception and appreciation of the image of the Armenian people. Using various linguistic, general linguistic, and linguistic cultural approaches and methodologies, the context of the anti-Armenian propaganda discourse is examined within the framework of this project. Both linguistic and extra-linguistic factors are taken into account, which contributes to introducing the given internal value into the text and realizing anti-Armenian communicative purposes. Within the framework of this basic project, the study revealed the irreplaceable and effective role of language in removing the tendencies of authors promoting anti-Armenianism and providing a true and unbiased perception of the image of Armenia and the Armenian people.

Many monographs and scientific articles have been published by this base laboratory, and the researched problems and obtained results have been presented at international conferences and prestigious scientific seminar-discussion platforms.

In the modern world, to develop, build, predict, and implement effective relations between Armenia and other states, and various international structures, it is advisable to apply the theoretical and practical achievements of such scientific directions widely used in developed countries, which enable decision makers to make optimal management decisions (diplomatic, military, economic and other fields). Traditional methods are not sufficient in terms of obtaining accurate solutions and developing mechanisms for analysis, forecasting, and implementation of all possible scenarios. For this reason, the practical application of game theory, network planning and management, and other directions of modeling in the processes of policy development and implementation have become a necessity and an effective tool in the great powers.

The purpose of strategic games, scenario analysis, and modeling group activities is to study and predict the relations and relationships between Armenia and the countries of the world, international structures, develop mechanisms for the implementation of desired scenarios using game theory, network planning, and management, modeling, and other scientific methods. The specific approach and principle of the group's activity is the public presentation of results obtained by scientific methods to decision-makers.

The combination of theoretical and practical scientific (monographs, scientific articles) and expert research is emphasized.

Diaspora studies are an inseparable part of Armenian studies. Many Armenian people, leaving their homeland in the Middle Ages, settled in neighboring and distant countries, laying the foundation for Armenian settlements that survived in later centuries, constantly being replenished by groups of Armenians leaving Armenia.

During the years of the Armenian Genocide, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to leave their homeland, on the one hand, renewing the old settlements, and on the other hand, creating many new ones. At that time, the number of Armenians living outside the homeland almost tripled, and the geography of Armenian settlements expanded more than twice. In addition, the Armenian emigration that survived the Genocide was deprived of the opportunity to return to their homeland. These realities are the reason why the Armenian Diaspora is considered a consequence of the genocide. after that, the Armenians who took refuge in foreign countries began to perceive themselves as a part of the Diaspora.

Now, most of the Armenian people live outside their two native states. Therefore, the study of the Diaspora is of great importance for Armenian studies, which completes the research of the medieval, new, and modern history of the Armenian people.

On the other hand, the work of the department is related to the theoretical part of diaspora studies, to clarify the methodological, propositional, and conceptual fields of diaspora studies.

The goals of the Department of Diaspora Studies are:

• To clarify the main methods, principles, provisions, and concepts used in diasporic studies,
• to carry out historical-genealogical and historical-typological comparative studies, comparing the Armenian Diaspora with other diasporas (Jewish, Greek, etc.),
• Study the main periods and developments in the history of the diaspora and the Diaspora itself,
• to study the history of individual settlements before the Armenian Genocide,
• to research the history of the formation of the Armenian heritage abroad and the current state of that heritage,
• to discuss the problems of the formation of the Diaspora after the Armenian Genocide,

study modern Armenian communities,

• To examine the current state of diaspora organizations,
• to study the main diaspora developments at the current stage,
• to study Armenia-Diaspora relations, their developments, and main areas of cooperation,
• to make strategic and situational analyses of the processes taking place in the Diaspora, and the developments of the Armenia-Diaspora relations.

The main goal of the department is to carry out scientific research, as well as educational and outreach activities that contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge about genocide and mass atrocities. Genocide studies is a scientific branch at the intersection of history, political science, law, sociology, psychology, and anthropology, and the department's researchers conduct research on the phenomenon of genocide, its causes, consequences, and prevention, using multidisciplinary approaches. It enables a more comprehensive understanding of the essence of genocide and the phenomena connected with it.

The department also implements the "Genocide Studies" master's program, which prepares new researchers to fill the field. Professional training, conferences, and discussions are also organized. The Department of Genocide Studies is also engaged in outreach activities. These actions may include public initiatives aimed at promoting awareness of the genocide and its impact, as well as initiating and supporting measures to prevent the genocide. It is implemented in cooperation with Armenian and international institutions and organizations.

The Department of Civil and Cultural Studies conducts fundamental research in cultural studies, political science, geopolitics, and other fields.

The department also performs expert analysis of civilizational processes and engages in the analysis of current political events. The conceptual basis of the research is the "Three Seas System" and "Network Governance" theories developed by the department, which provide an opportunity to form a deep understanding of the event developments in regional and global processes.

The research is carried out by the staff of the Department of Civil and Cultural Studies with the involvement of the scientific potential of the relevant departments of YSU.

In 2023 The Cyber Security and Data Analysis Department was created based on the Virtual Armenology and Information Department of YSU RA.

The most important functions of the department are:

• to perform a comprehensive analysis of the level of cyber security and cyber stability in RA,
• to evaluate the impact of cyber developments and information and communication technologies on the national security policy of RA,
• to develop methodologies for performing modeling, event, predictive, and scenario analyses using digital tools and technological solutions.

The aforementioned research is carried out within the framework of the observation of Armenia and the states of the region.

By the requirements of the Internet industry, which is developing day by day, one of the department's priorities is to collect, complete, and analyze the materials published by a number of international mass media and international organizations during and after the 44-day Artsakh war of 2020, to cover the war and the post-war situation.

One of the functions of the department is also providing access to works published by various departments of YSU Institute of Armenian Studies: books, articles, workbooks, reports, analyses, as well as maps and atlases, coverage of scientific events and conferences, presentations organized by the institute and other professional platforms.

Under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for about 600 years, the Armenian people were subjected to national discrimination in all spheres of their activities, even to physical destruction. The history of the Ottoman Empire is part of the history of the Armenian people. Accordingly, the Ottoman and Turkic studies of the Armenian-Ottoman relations department cover the XIV-XX centuries. the period and the revelations of the falsification and denial of the present-day distortions of the history of the Armenian people in the Republic of Turkey.

At the heart of the study of the department are the questions related to the political, cultural, economic history, demography, identity, toponymy, and linguistic relations of the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire. One of the important directions of the department is the examination of documents related to the Armenian Genocide. In particular, the department conducts research on the following issues:

• The study of the historical demography of Western Armenia, Cilicia, and other Armenian-inhabited provinces, by combining Armenian and foreign sources from Ottoman geographies (ﺘﺤﺮﻴ tahrir), yearbooks (ﺴﺍﻟﻨﺍﻤﮫ salname),
• Armenian states in Ottoman administrative divisions,
• The tax policy of the Ottoman Empire in Western Armenia, Cilicia, and other states inhabited by Armenians,
• The stages, methods, and consequences of the policy of forced Islamization of non-Turkish peoples in the Ottoman Empire,
• The Ottoman Army: structural features and development benchmark,
• The land confiscation policy of the Ottoman Empire,
• The ideology of Turkicism and its modern manifestations in the Republic of Turkey and Turkic-speaking states,
• Linguistic examination of the Armenian-Ghpcagh manuscripts kept at the Research Institute of Old Manuscripts of Matenadaran named after Mesrop Mashtots, Yerevan,
• Islamization policy of Hamshen Armenians, their distribution scope, identity, language status,
• Study of archival documents related to the Armenian question and the Armenian Genocide.

The aim of the work of the Armenian-Kurdish relations department of YSU RA is to carry out comprehensive research of current regional political processes related to the Kurds, which provides an opportunity to form a deep understanding of regional developments and to assess the external challenges to the security of RA and Artsakh and the prospects of the latter's political and economic development. In that regard, the department sets before itself the task of scientific reinterpretation of the past Armenian-Kurdish relations, monitoring of current processes, as well as preparation of expert forecasts from the perspective of RA security interests. Taking into account the fact that Armenia and Armenians are related to the ever-changing regional and global processes, the studies of the processes related to Armenians and Kurds in the context of the developments taking place in the Middle Eastern region, the policies of regional powers and states become on the agenda.

The employees of the Armenian-Kurdish relations department carry out field research of the Kurdish communities of Kurdistan (the Kurdish areas of the Republic of Turkey, Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Islamic Republic of Iran), as well as the states of the South Caucasus. The department publishes the collections "Issues of Kurdish Studies" and "Dynamics of regional developments from the perspective of RA security interests".

During the 30-year history of the Republic of Armenia, a scientific (expert) group was formed for the first time within the framework of the YSU Institute for Armenian Studies, which deals with Israeli research in general and RA-Israel relations in particular.

The RA-Arab states and the RA-Israel relations research group is engaged in a comprehensive study of modern relations between Arab countries and Israel. The events, changes, and transformations taking place in the Near and Middle East have a direct impact on the security environment of Armenia, Artsakh, and the "South Caucasus" region, bringing forth many threats, dangers, risks, and challenges.

Over the past 3 decades, the Near and Middle East has undergone significant transformations in terms of power distribution, the relations between the influential actors of the region have noticeably intensified, and the trends of power intervention dominate.

Taking into account the current developments and new realities in the Middle East, as well as the new threats, dangers, risks, and challenges facing Armenia, it is necessary to take a new, expert, and comprehensive look at the features of the internal and external policies of the Arab states and Israel, as well as the variables affecting foreign relations, and other systemic factors in the context of RA-Arab states, and RA-Israel relations.

The research group of RA-Arab states, RA-Israel relations is called to investigate the mentioned issues in the context of the relations of the Republic of Armenia with the states of the region, to publish quality scientific studies, and practically oriented expert reports, workbooks, which will be addressed to the academic community, political circles, state departments as well as a wide readership.