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Nanore Barsoumian

Nanore Barsoumian

Nanore Barsoumian was the editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2014 to 2016. She served as assistant editor of the Armenian Weekly from 2010 to 2014. Her writings focus on human rights, politics, poverty, and environmental and gender issues. She has reported from Armenia, Nagorno-Karabagh, Javakhk and Turkey. She earned her B.A. degree in Political Science and English and her M.A. in Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts (Boston).
Nanore Barsoumian

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19 Comments

  1. Assuming (that is with a big A) she has established the causality between migration and socio-economic factors, there are still questions re her tiny paragraph of recommendations. Did the increase in direct foreign investments, the police reform and the Western media hyped reduction of corruption in Georgia since 2004 result in the drop in out-migration? Why not? And why she thinks it will be different in Armenia? (A hint: e.g. get rid of the alarmist attitudes). The Carthage of the corrupt oligarchic system must be destroyed in Armenia but for other reasons. It has become customary to connect all ills to the same cause of a beaten horse as a substitute for the real research and analysis. “Don’t be alarmed, it all comes right at the end.”

  2. First, on the quality of this research … I wish we Azeris had a similarly thorough source of statistics … well, on anything. It is very well done, a PhD dissertation grade research.

    I have seen from comments here on similar articles that the Armenian diaspora hates to hear about how bad things are in their beloved Armenia (denial is a sweet thing, especially when you don’t live there). This article should disabuse them of that denial once for all.

    And you diasporans, what do you expect? I read here recently that you guys had a telethon and collected only $60k or something like that. How pathetic! We Azeris spend more than that on toothpicks at an Aliyev birthday. It made me wonder: this omnipowerful Armenian diaspora, really? But then Avery or someone else explained to me in a different thread that your power is the grassroots and not really money. It makes sense. Still, I am sure the money would be good too :)

    Strangely, I don’t feel an urge to gloat. On the contrary, the article brought back some bad memories from the time we Azeris too were poor and eager to flee. It is a human tragedy, Azeri or Armenian. Fortunately we now have oil. As for Armenia, I don’t think corruption elimination will fix it. In today’s global economy, Armenia is just too small and resource-less to compete, and people will always flock to better places (countries now compete over talent and even just mere population, e.g., Russia). You know, at the end of the day, you just can’t eat patriotism.

    What does all this mean to Azerbaijan? Nothing, actually. I don’t think it will make it any easy for us to “defeat” you, as my brethren seems to think. Because no matter who economically weak you are, Russia will be there to support you against us, because not doing so is equivalent to them losing strategic foothold in Caucasus.

    • Kerim, thank you for an honest response that avoided xenophobia. Just a minor correction, the telethon collected several million dollars. Of course, this is nothing compared to Billions that oil is bringing to the Aliev Swiss Bank accounts or helping the Azerbaijan govt purchase military equipment.

      It is all very scary.

      I wish there can be a peaceful resolution, but I don’t have much hope.

    • “In today’s global economy, Armenia is just too small and resource-less to compete,”

      Thank you for the motivation. Keep saying this. Armenia’s GDP grew by 7 per cent last year. Azerbaijan’s–only 2.2 per cent.
      (http://rus.azatutyun.am/content/news/24826186.html)
      (http://rus.azatutyun.am/content/article/24807447.html)

      Armenia is the most economically free country in the Commonwealth of Independent States, according to a study published by the “we-went-to-war-for-oil-and-are-therefore-extremely-reluctant-to-criticize-any-oil-rich-ally” Heritage Foundation(!)
      (http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking)

      Keep resisting the urge to gloat, buddy.

    • You’re right, denial is a sweet thing. Just like how you’re denying that Azerbaijan also has a serious emigration problem.

      Azeri people in Azerbaijan are more poorer than Armenians in Armenia. Yes you have a rich government and governers, but that is it. They made enough selling oil to eliminate poverty but they won’t give their 99% peasent population a euro. So pathetic.

      People are leaving both countries but in the end this is Azerbaijan’s fault. SO I have always had a hard time feeling bad about your people’s poverty and freedom problems.

  3. I hear more and more from people who moved (not returned) to Armenia. They are our friends, former neighbors and close acquaintances. They give a totally different picture of what’s going on and how the country had improved.

    I think this is a normal two-way process. Don’t forget that the “million” who left includes people who were forced out due to war and earthquake aftermath. Armenia could not sustain an influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees who managed to escape alive from Sumgait, Baku, Gandzak, occupied Artsakh lands, etc. at the time when there was a total blockade and entire region destroyed by nature.

    In addition, people like the family featured in the beginning of this article are the product of Soviet system. That system benefited Armenia (and other former Soviet republics) in terms of population growth. Basically it was a wealth transfer operation where economies of the satellites were subsidized by Russian oil and gas. This allowed to create a welfare system that could sustain population beyond local capacity.

    The woman in the article describes hard work, little pay and long hours she experienced before emigration. But moving to the US didn’t really change much for her in this regard. She still has to work on 2+ jobs barely making it. And she is a legal immigrant. Many others find themselves in much worse situation because they are illegal migrants in Russia, Spain, California, etc.

  4. I moved back from Moscow to Armenia in 2010 and I do represent Repat Armenia Foundation, which was establsihed in August 2012 to support brain gain repatriation to Armenia and support Syrian Armenians who moved to Armenia recently.

    We have several thousands repatriates who arrived to Armenia during the last 20 years and yes, its more difficult to live here in financial terms in comparision with Russia, US, Canada and European countries but there is a good quality of life, many opportunities both in social and business spheres and if you are smart enough, if you know the markets if you were successful abroad, you would have a good chance to start something here which will allow you to live in Armenia as well as will have a direct impact on tens, hundreds of people living here.

    Our organization is ready to provide different type of support to those who would like to move to Armenia. Don’t hesitate to contact us …

  5. Unfortunatly the leadership of Armenia isn’t the brightest. If economic opportunities were created there would be immigration to Armenia. Many Armenians around the world would consider moving to Armenia if they could get work, myself included.

    After 20 years of independence Armenia still can’t feed itself. It still imports milk from its neighbours.

  6. To Robert Bonderuk,
    Somewhat true , as rgds improvement of Economy in Armenia.But she went through hell the past first few yeasrs,eartchquake Karabagh War and aftermath of soviet nationalization and abandonment of factories by latter…
    What little there is, clearly are from handouts aid from foreign govt.s and Loans.latter build up continuously as flow of same goes on in millions of dollars and Euros.
    I do not expect REAL REPATRIATION,unless it is organized by the Armenian Diaspora*even the 1947 one was so…
    Thherefoe i urge you to read me in independent armenian media, such as NOR GYANK,beginning january 10,2013 issue\ IN ARMENIAN.
    I also send copies to many many by email,since the “”other”‘Armenian meida ,i.e., partisan does not admit my like “‘suggestions””,so if you wish,read in that weekly re my Theme/Scheme of organizing the Repatriation and or write to me at gayzagpal@aol.com when I shall send yoiu the articles viewpoints direclty,if you do not have access to aforementioned weekly.Soon though I hope another one in L.A. namely USArmenialife magazine will begin to publish me.

  7. If this is a natonal security issue, then what is the rational of sharing it with our enemies? Is it because it will make diasporans more aware and they will rush to populate Armenia ? I think for now, they are on stand-by to see if the effectiveness of the work in progress to eliminate lawlessness, which is a syndrome found in most post USSR republics, will not last 2 or 3 generations !

  8. Like any pile of data, the story told tells as much or more about the teller and audience than the data. What has been achieved in Armenia, given the circumstances and resources, after centuries of oppression, is remarkable. Indeed, given the circumstances and resources, it is amazing it is as good as it is – a testimony to our people’s goodness, intelligence and hard work. It is a pity that so many have chosen to meet the historical opportunity of this generation of Armenians with hand-wringing rather than engagement. It has been said, “most of the problems of the world would be solved by doing what we could have done, but didn’t.”

    There are many narratives that one can impose on any set of data. Some help us understand what we can do; they are empowering and magnanimous. Others are enfeebling and lead to misdiagnosis. The Weekly’s forebears more than 120 years ago espoused empowerment and transcendence when confronting the much more menacing problems of the day. In order to do this, we need perspective, reality checks, benchmarks. As Arthur points out, what is happening in Armenia is not happening in isolation, it is not unique, especially in the post-soviet space, and in a globalized world, migration is commonplace, and has less to do with “corruption” or “lawlessness” or even absolute economic opportunity than with comparative ease of mobility, the ease of life in various global wealth centers (e.g., US, Europe, in the soviet space, Moscow) where public goods and private life are, how else to put it, richer and more predictable, because there are more resources around and safety nets around. Take a hard look at how much has been invested and how much wealth has accumulated in those global wealth centers that attract migrants (and if you can stomach it – how it has been accumulated at whose expense). Yes, it is easier to live in the proximity of the accumulated wealth of others. It is harder to build that up oneself. Armenia is building and it is messy – building always is. For those ready to build, taking up Vartan’s suggestion to look into Repat Armenia may be a good option. It is a mobile world, which means people live and work in multiple places over time, or even at the same time. Diasporans living and working in Armenia create economic opportunity and there is a significant multiplier effect. How much of a difference could you make? You’ll never know unless you try.

  9. Then we should have a program that tells us what help is needed, and how an individual who feels helpless can do something, and contribute in their little way, instead of complain.
    I certainly do not know what I can do, apart from the little donation I make every now and then.

    • I used to have the same problem – donating here and there never knowing if it was enough, or should I give more, and would it really matter, etc.

      This was until we got hooked on Dave Ramsey and his views on charitable donations (i.e., charitable giving is part of your budget and that giving is part of being human) were so revealing and liberating that we developed our own system that works for us when it comes to donating to Armenian causes.

      It goes like this: every April 24th we pull out our previous year’s tax return and calculate 1.915% of the taxable income amount – we let our kids have fun with the math;) Then we write a check for this amount and deposit it to our “charitable giving” bank account. This becomes our total charitable contributions amount to spend on donations to Armenian charities for the year, until the next April 24th comes around again.

      It turned out that we were under-contributing all the years prior to this revelation because we thought it was enough to give $20 to this cause and $25 to that since their brochure was more appealing or their voice was louder, but by the end of the year we never had anything close to 2% of our income.

      To compensate for the “lost opportunities” we also volunteer at least 2% of our time working on Armenian causes. Volunteering should work for everybody no matter your tax bracket.

      I’m not suggesting to anyone to adopt our system, rather, I would like to encourage everybody to develop their own system. You can start with any number or percentage and just put it away like a cable bill every month.

      Actually, all the fun begins after you made that conscious decision to part with your money. Because you will know how much you have to spend, you never have to worry if you have enough in your bank account or how much is enough. You donate what you budgeted no matter how large or small and that’s that.

      Now you get to find the charities to donate to and rate and monitor them according to your standards. It is remarkable how easy it is to find a cause that resonates with you when you know you have a certain amount of funds “burning a hole in your pocket” before you start looking.

      This is when you will probably realize that there is already a lot of information about the needs available. In any case, you can ask yourself what your personal interests are as a place to start. This different way of looking at charitable giving kind of turns the tables — and instead of them seeking you, you are seeking the best of them. We do not respond to mass mailings anymore and we do not fill out “supporter” forms, etc. We just seek opportunities that strike a chord with us, and where our relatively small contributions can make the greatest impact.

      And the icing on the cake is that this method has changed our lives dramatically — talk about something fun to look forward to every month!

  10. I don’t think it is proper to put a spin on the valuable data presented in this report and discount it as being invaluable. Indeed, “corruption” and “lawlessness” as put in quotation marks for some strange reason in a previous comment are some of the determining factors for emigration from Armenia. Anyone who has actually bothered to communicate with plain folks will understand what most Armenians have to deal with on a daily basis. Opportunities for opening businesses, for diaspora-based Armenians and Armenian citizens alike, are extremely limited due to the monopolistic characteristics of the Armenian economy, not to mention the lopsided manner in which the government collects taxes, with a main focus on the small to medium-sized businesses. These are plain facts. People who live comfortably in Armenia, be they from the diaspora or born and raised, can afford to justify the necessity or inevitability of emigration, simply because it doesn’t coincide with their own interests, either professional or personal. After nearly 22 years of independence, there really is no excuse for playing down the real problems that most Armenians continue to face today–that is, trying to do whatever necessary to put food on the table, and living that way day to day, with no safety cushion to fall back on, often in decrepit housing. For many, that means emigrating and sending money home. It should’t have to be that way, and the Armenian government is directly responsible for not creating jobs so people don’t migrate, period. So are Armenians from the diaspora for that matter who placate the Armenian authorities by spreading disinformation about the realities on the ground. Let’s not make any excuses for them.

  11. THE DANGER WITHIN!!!!
    ON JAN 23*see above I posted that we have to RE ORGANIZE REPATRIATION,for which i have a long stretched,easy to *rather,to realkize PLAN.
    Armenians NEVER LISTEN\ they just wish to say their own!!!! this is VERY DANGEROUS.I have proof to that.At pressent there arfe a few on the scene,similar -vaguely- to each other that wish to bring armenians together to act.In France, In Moscow, In Yerevan as well-lately…
    Wehjreas I always suggest that any such ought to begin from TOP down.We tried the other version i.e. establishing ea on his her own and when coming to the main issue of FUNDING,all resorted to the very old money collection ..Mine is based omn establishing the NUCLEUS by our 6/7 magnates!!!!
    Becasue money goes to where money IS!!!!
    If you give it me and people of my stature,i.e. not so well positioned the SATAN may enter in mind mind and direcft me to Rio De Janeiro to dance Samba-wish to say like many have done, mis placement of the funds collecgted.Wehreas any one know Ms, Louis simon Manoogian or ?Vatch Manoukin, or Kirk kerkorian and Ernekian , Cafesjian do NOT NEED OUR CONTRIBUTIONS.they are FILTHY R I C H !!!!
    sO OUR DEAR dASHNAG hINCHA G rAMAGAVARAN AND IN EXTENSION THEIR rANK AND FILE MUST COME TO GRIPS THAT WE n e e d this change IN THE DIASPORA.wE NEED TO RE ORGANZIE IT what is more not only around the ideology -based political parties and or many many Armenian entities each acting on their own.Best to all of them !!!and I aam certain yet others will pop up in the near and far future..This is our mindset.
    Otherwise at the very least begin to LISTEN AND HAVE THE COURTESY OF AT THE VERY LEAST TO SAY gaytzag you are WRONG!!!!
    tHEY DON’T DO THAT THEY STICK TO THEIR OWN AND ..well you know the rest.
    I have been openly also-amongst many “”sugesttions”” mentioned that those Armenian YOUNG who go to Fatherland on trips,besides language,culture ,music etc., learning alsoPARTAKE IN MILITARY CADET TRAINING FOR A MONTH WITH THE NEWLY RECRUITS THERE. or a month and ahalf!!!
    To my surprise I watched yerevan *one of the T.v./they have done that but in theri tgwiseted v e r s i o n . THAT OF KIDS NOT EVEN tEEN AGERS , WEARING UNIFORMS AND GOING TO SOME SUCH CONCOCTED UP MILITARY SCHOOLD,IMAGINE 7/8 YEAR OLD.wHAT i SUGGDESTED WAS for military age IN THEIR 18’S TO 25’s visiting Fatherland!!!!so we have copists at work in RA as well. same G.D.Armenian mindsset. Never to take any good idea fromm other…not even…well I said enough.
    BUT ..WHAT DROVE ME TO WRITE ABOVE IS ,JUST READ ON INTERNET THAT AXERBAIJAN HAS STARTED TO GIVE THIS MILITARY CADET TRAINING IN ALL OF THEIR SECONDARY SCHOOLS…
    SO OUR ADVERSARY IS MORE RECEPTIVE THAN THE ARMENIAN HARD HEADED NATURE.THEY CERTAINLYU KNOW TO COPY AND ADVANCE OTHERS..while our people are in their S L U M B E R !!!!
    Wake up Armenian get geared up start the NATIONAL INVESTMENT TRUST FUND.Prior to that get involved in PCA’s Prof.Colleagues aSsoc. that is where ojur G I A N T IS, both rescourse wise and mone wise.
    Best hasgcoghin
    G.P.

  12. To begin with, its cellular which gives you flexibility which
    means you don’t have to be seated directly facing your personal computer check.

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