Armenian diaspora mobilizations in Europe – Dr. Maria Koinova

SYNOPSIS: This session seeks to discuss patterns of Armenian diaspora mobilizations to recognize the Armenian genocide and regarding the evolution of political and social processes associated with Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The session draws on extensive original research conducted among the Armenian diaspora in Europe, part of a large-scale migration project of the European Research Council “Diasporas and Contested Sovereignty,” conducted at Warwick University (2012-2017). The lecture discusses specifically how different types of diaspora leaders become positionally empowered by the different contexts in which they are embedded, and mobilize transnationally in Europe and its neighbourhood.

SPEAKER BACKGROUND: Dr. Maria Koinova is a Reader (Senior Associate Professor) in International Relations at the University of Warwick. She was the Principal Investigator of the European Research Council Starting Grant Project “Diasporas and Contested Sovereignty” 2012-2017, which sought to analyze how conflict-generated diasporas in Europe mobilize for political and social processes towards their countries of origin in the Balkans, Caucasus and Middle East. The ERC project explored the Albanian, Armenian, Bosnian, Kurdish, Iraqi and Palestinian diasporas in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and France. Dr. Koinova has held research appointments at Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Uppsala University, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, and Dutch Institute of Advanced Studies. Her publications on diaspora politics in International Relations have appeared in highly ranked journals: European Journal of International Relations, International Studies Review, International Political Sociology, Review of International Studies, and Foreign Policy Analysis, among others. She is the leading editor of three special issues that emerged from the ERC project, published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (2018), International Political Science Review (2018) and Ethnic and Racial Studies (expected to be published in 2019). She is the author of Ethnonationalist Conflict in Postcommunist States (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013) and currently completing a book manuscript focused on the agency of diaspora entrepreneurs in transnational mobilizations towards the European neighborhood.

BACKGROUND: The CAIA is organising another course to meet the demand from the community, thanks to a small grant from ‘Ealing Adult Education Department’. The course is also open and suitable to anyone with an interest in history, culture, and heritage.

The course offers:
– A better understanding of Armenian history, culture and heritage
– An opportunity for families to learn together about their past
– Improve prospects into further learning
– A chance to ask questions & interact with others in a friendly & welcoming environment

This course is designed by way of introduction to increase knowledge of Armenian history, culture, identity & dispersion and to enable adults/young people to understand better about where, why and how Armenians have arrived in UK and the challenges facing them.

DETAILS: To attend, please send us an email in advance (info@caia.org.uk) booking your place. Full registration on the day with your passport number. You can print out and bring the filled in registration form with you as well – download it here: http://bit.do/armenian

Light lunch/refreshments
1.30pm-2pm

This is a free course in English open for anyone. However, you must register and complete a feedback evaluation form at the end of each session.

Places are limited.