Complexity in the Relations between Armenian Diaspora and Armenia Government

Maintaining identity roots and keeping ties with the homeland, Armenian populations scattered around the world are globally considered as a prominent example of diaspora. As a political actor, diaspora may have a high influence on their homeland, which is measured by the balance of power between the homeland and the diaspora. This paper is mainly aimed to examine the impact of the balance between diaspora and the state since the independence of Armenia in September 1991 to 2018 (changing the presidential system to parliamentary) on the internal and external capabilities of the Armenian government. The authors try to find an answer for the following question: main question: How the balance between the Armenian state and the Armenian Diaspora has influenced the internal and external capabilities of the Armenian government from independence till 2018?" The hypothesis confirmed by the findings of the research is: "the unbalanced relations between the powerful Armenian Diaspora and the governments in need of protection in the Republic of Armenia has a dual impact on Yerevan's capabilities as on one hand the Armenian government enjoys the economic benefits and power of lobbying and on the other hand faces the challenge of national authority and independence in foreign policy." Process tracing method is utilized in this paper to evaluate the relations between the Armenian government and the Armenian Diaspora. The theoretical framework governing the analysis of the paper's findings is the interpretation of transnationalism offered by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye which emphasizes on the importance of nongovernmental actors in the world politics.