Edita Gzoyan, director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI) in Yerevan, is concerned that Armenian Genocide studies have developed outside of Armenia and the bulk of the work in the field is thanks to Armenian scholars from the diaspora.

Gzoyan, during a recent panel discussion on the internationalization of the humanities and social sciences, noted that Armenia falls far behind in terms of publishing genocide studies research in international journals.

“When I was elected director, one of my priorities was to develop the AGMI as a scientific institution and try to make our voice heard, because I think it is unacceptable that there is a scientific institute of the Armenian Genocide in Armenia, but our voice is not heard at all on international platforms, instead we have diaspora Armenian and Turkish scholars who are engaged in the study of the Armenian Genocide,” says Gzoyan.

She said that only three scientific journals in Armenia are included in international data bases.

Gzoyan’s also referred to the “politicization” of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.  

“If we separate science from politics, it will help us express more freely everything we want to do,” says Gzoyan.

Narek Sukiasyan, a researcher at Yerevan State University’s Institute of Armenian Studies agrees with Edita Gzoyan’s view that scientific institutes should determine their own strategy and priorities but notes that there should be an understanding of state needs, which is lacking in Armenia.

Photo: Gituzhi