Are those who pursue the American dream ready to continue the path in their homeland? (video)

The book "Does anybody come from LA?" presents the international and Armenian experience of repatriation, the multi-layered reality of the Diaspora, the "repulsive" and "attractive" aspects of immigration, and the authors make conclusions and suggestions. During the research, two types of repatriation problems were studied: The political and socio-economic situation, the cultural factor and adaptation, the legislative, and the problems of repatriates.

Historiographical research was conducted within the "Minasyan" series of the Hasratyan-Minasyan Foundation. The reason for the study is the demographic disaster. The population of Armenia has only been decreasing in the last 30 years. The reasons are very different: war and pandemic, population aging, birth rate decline and emigration.   

Many experts believe that immigration is the shortest way to solve the problem. The authors of the book, father and daughter sociologists, have also tried to find out whether immigration is possible today. The Diaspora is not homogeneous, but American Armenians were chosen because the largest community of the Armenian diaspora is there. Los Angeles is home to the traditional Diaspora and the new one. The third and fourth-generation American Armenians born in the United States live there. The example of Los Angeles provides an opportunity to explore the diversity of the Diaspora and its thoughts on repatriation.

Sociologists conclude that according to the research, the term "repatriation" needs to be revised. Repatriation is generally understood as the return of Armenians to their homeland, Armenia, and this process is an acceptable and encouraged form of migration policy. However, some of the different generations and sub-ethnic groups of the Diaspora do not consider Armenia as a historical homeland or as the country of their origin. Some experts suggest using the term "ethnic return" instead of “repatriation”.