A new initiative to analyse the Armenian world
On 5 December 2025, the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation launched the think tank called: “Diasporan Perspectives – The Gulbenkian Initiative on Armenian Issues. Սփիւռքեան հեռանկարներ”. Grounded on existing programming, the initiative has been in the making for several years.
The UK Branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation hosted the panel discussion that launched this important initiative. The event was attended by distinguished guests, community leaders, scholars, experts and a public interested in learning first-hand about the project and its foreseen impact.
The President of the Gulbenkian Foundation, Professor António Feijó opened the event. His remarks about the work of the Armenian Communities Department set the grounds for the subsequent panel discussion, where panellists Dr. Razmik Panossian (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation), Dr. Vicken Cheterian (University of Geneva) and Professor Armine Ishkanian (London School of Economics) conversed about the various aspects of the think tank.
Keeping the speakers continuously engaged, the moderator, João Saavedra (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation), led the discussion, covering various important topics. He started with the “why now” question reflecting the urgent geopolitical and social changes affecting Armenia and the Diaspora, and the need to properly analyse them. He asked the panellists to explain how this think thank would be different from other existing initiatives — what would be its niche. He also brought up the important issue of reaching decision-makers with research findings so that analysis is translated into policy impact.
In answering questions form the audience, the panellists brought clarity to the structure of the think tank, gave highlights of the topics it would first research and underlined some of the first outputs expected as early as 2026; from a seminar series on the Armenian Diaspora to the publication of research and books on the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan war. Diasporan Perspectives will situate itself as the go to think tank that contextualises the Armenian experience in an international setting and brings diasporan outlooks on national issues amplifying the outside-in approach.
With its long history of engagement with Armenian communities worldwide, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation provides a natural institutional home for such work. Diasporan Perspectives is the entity that will commission, publish and disseminate new research in the social sciences focusing on the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia, and will act as a convening space for leaders, policy makers and experts. The director of the project is Vicken Cheterian.
The recording of the panel discussion is available to watch.
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Diasporan Perspectives has a dedicated website that will be the main outlet through which the think tank will announce and communicate its news and publicise its research.
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