Armenian Students in Paris: Mobility, Identity, and Encounters within the Diaspora

This dissertation explores the internal dynamics of the Armenian Diaspora using the example of the Armenian House in Paris, a student dormitory that gathers young Armenians from Armenia, Europe, America, the Middle East, post-Soviet countries and other parts of the world. Combining historical and sociological perspectives, the study explores how mobility, memory, and cultural background shape belonging and interaction in this transnational microcosm. Based on classical and modern theories of the Diaspora and the concept of transnational mobility, the study considers the Armenian house as a living space where different versions of “Armenianness" meet, converge, and sometimes collide. Through high-quality interviews and observation of participants, an analysis is made of how language, collective memory, and everyday practices transcend boundaries and solidarity among residents. The data obtained indicate that the Armenian Diaspora in Paris is neither unified nor fragmented, but is constantly being rebuilt through contacts that connect many countries, languages and generations, which makes mobility as such a central condition for the existence of the diaspora.