Francophilia: Case of Armenia Julie Oddon

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Julie Oddon. Francophilia: Case of Armenia. AMBERD Bulletin, Armenian State University of Economics, 2020, pp.82-91. hal-03318710v2

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ARMENIA AND WORLD

FRANCOPHILIA: CASE OF ARMENIA

Keywords: francophilia, diaspora, soft power, language, OIF

Julie There are already a lot of papers about Francophil- ODDON ia. Nevertheless, most of them involve African countries or French speaking countries. Studying Francophilia in Student in Sciences Po Lyon, France Armenia brings a new angle to the movement since it is an underlying and entrenched concept in the countries Third year student at Sciences Po that do not speak French. So, we decided to study the Lyon, France (Political Science). In- ternship at AMBERD weight of the French language in Armenia. The goal Research Center of Armenian was to find explanations of this Francophile movement State University of Economics, Yere- by understanding its roots, actors and dynamics. It is van, Armenia (February – June, 2020). Exchange student at High- through readings and interviews that we collected our er School of Economics (Russian information to write this paper. The main and most ob- and International Relations), vious reason why French is so popular is partly due to Moscow, Russia (September – De- cember, 2019). Internship at Fir- the French policies and soft power throughout the world menich, Neuilly-sur-Seine, and as such also in Armenia. We acknowledge that we France (June-July 2018). miss diverse sources to make this paper more relevant. What would be important to understand after this is how the vision of Francophilia is biased and only based on France whereas it covers numerous and diverse pop- ulations.

ntroduction I The distance between France and Armenia is 3497 kilometers. No more than a person out of ten has no- tions of French in Armenia, and according to a study from the International Organization for Francophonie, there are 0,3% francophones out of 2,9 million Armenians1. Then, how can we explain the Francophile movement? We decid-

1 From the report of the Linguistic Observatory of the French Language, page 96. https://www.francophonie.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/ Edition%202019%20La%20langue%20francaise%20dans%20le%20 monde_VF%202020%20.pdf 82 2020/ 3. ed to work on Francophilia and how it is a ment. First of all, this essay will focus on his- ԱՄԲԵՐԴ ՏԵՂԵԿԱԳԻՐ . АМБЕРД . AMBERD BULLETIN БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ French soft power tool and to precisely study toric and deep ties of Armenia and France. this in Armenia. In Armenia, French is not These ties are political, cultural and econom- an official language and as the figures show ic and are such for centuries. Then, we will it is not a predominant language either. Nev- examine the Armenian diaspora in France ertheless, ties between the two countries are which helps keeping relationships between really deep and mostly unknown that is why the two nations. Another explanation for this we considered it interesting. Thus, through interest in the French language is the French this paper, we hope we can shed light not soft power; indeed, France has an import- only on their relations but also on the Ar- ant cultural diplomacy around the world, in- menian Francophile movement by focusing cluding Armenia. Finally, we will mention the on the Armenian interest in the French lan- Armenian membership of the International guage. Organization for Francophonie and how this Francophilia concerns foreigners and fact contributes to the enhancement of the their interests for the French nation, its Armenian Francophilia. culture and values. With not confusing with As far as the method used is concerned, I Francophonie, which is the quality of speak- first tried to read as much as possible about ing French, it also includes all the people, what Francophonie and Francophilia meant, institutions and governments that use French indeed the goal was to grasp the key con- on a daily basis, either as an administrative cepts. There are a lot of research papers, language, teaching one or a chosen one. books and reviews about Francophonie, its The word was invented by Onésime Reclus, objectives, what it represents for France. a French geographer at the end of the XIX For instance, Philippe Lane4 wrote about the century. This represents France, Belgium, French presence across the world explain- Switzerland but also twenty-six countries ing its roots, goals, the policies put in place. in Africa such as Congo, Madagascar and Most of the time, these papers illustrate their Rwanda. Francophonie is for France a diplo- statements with African French speaking matic tool part of its soft power. Soft Power countries. Indeed, Africa is the continent 30 is defining it as the “use of positive attrac- with the most French speaking people. Also, tion and persuasion to achieve foreign policy this region is a priority for Francophonie. objectives”. Soft Power 30 is a ranking made The following step was to link it with Arme- every year by the strategic firm Portland and nia. For doing that, I looked for papers and the university of South Carolina; they ranked books about the history, about the diaspora France first in 20172 and 20193. and about the relations between France and The love for French in Armenia is a fact. Armenia. Finding data about this was more However, the challenge here is to find rea- challenging, indeed, there are not many pa- sons for this movement which is at first not pers about the specific relationship between expected. Indeed, as we mentioned, the two France and Armenia. Nevertheless, I read countries are far from each other and their many papers about the Armenian diaspora relations are not obvious. Through this re- in France and the history of Armenia. Con- search we found explanations to it, either cerning cultural diplomacy, most papers historical, political or economic. We decided speak about the African countries and rarely to list and detail them to explain, as much mention Armenia. Most of the papers I read as we can, the Armenian Francophile move- were in French since it was about France, but

2 See Overall Ranking 2017 https://softpower30.com/?country_years=2017 3 See Overall Ranking 2019 https://softpower30.com/?country_years=2019 4 Lane, Philippe. ‘Présence Française Dans Le Monde - L’action Culturelle et Scientifique de La France’. Re- searchGate, May 2016, 131.

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2020/ I also read in English. For this research, I ries of cohabitation leaves marks, Armenians also tried to reach professors, organizations would talk about it for generations creating related to Francophonie that are in Armenia a positive image of France in the Armenian and abroad. Unfortunately, most of them did imaginary. Something we need to understand not answer. I tried to diversify the point of is how France and the French language are views and the sources of information in or- still so appreciated when we know how import- der to be more relevant. Therefore, this pa- ant the Armenian language is for its speakers. per is mainly based on theoretical resources Indeed, Armenian is one of the rare languages found on different research platforms. directly descending from Indo-European and Deep and historic ties is still alive more than two thousand years af- These deep and ancient ties can find an ter. For linguists, it is a genuine treasury. As explanation in religion. Indeed, crusades were explained, the Armenian language is part of a series of religious wars supported by the what we called the Armenian resistance. Latin Church, the crusaders wanted to spread Coming back to history, most of the high Christianity, by force, in order to recover the dignitaries of the Ottoman Empire were fran- Holy Land from the Islamic rule. Since Arme- cophones and they lived in a French way. They nia is the first country to ever adopt Christi- succeeded in keeping their Armenian identi- anity as a state religion, they represented an ty and living a French life. Thus, through all ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ И МИР . ARMENIA AND WORLD . WORLD И МИР . ARMENIA AND ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ important ally for the crusaders in the Eastern the XIX century, thanks to these lords and Mediterranean region. their patronage, French works were translat- Thus, one of the first contacts between ed, especially Victor Hugo’s works. With the France and Armenia dates back to the cru- French Revolution of 1789, the republican sades, at the time Armenia was the Arme- ideas convinced the minority of the Ottoman nian Kingdom of Cilicia (XII-XIX century). The Empire and more specifically the Armenian Frankish lords got married with the Armenian community. The fact that the Armenians took princesses creating a French-Armenian royal the French republican ideas does not look line, the last king of it was Leon V. This roy- like a coincidence, it can be interpreted as an al line lasted for three centuries, meaning as evidence of the Armenian-French old implic- much time to create and establish an import- it relationships. The Armenian revolutionary ant Francophilia sometimes with a Francopho- movement was well implemented in the East- nie, which, depending on the social classes, ern Anatolia, Cilicia and Constantinople. They lasted. For example, the king Leon II started a created their own political parties: Armenakan francization of the royal court and of the State, in 1885, Hentchack in 1887 and the Armenian breaking thus with the Armenian tradition. He Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) in implemented the Frankish feudal system in 1890. During World War I, the French Ori- the kingdom and a central and powerful roy- ent Legion, founded in 1916, was mainly com- al power which corresponded to the French posed of the Armenians that decided to enroll system. themselves in the army to fight for France. Francophilia can also be explained by an Moreover, most French Armenians supported important cultural and historical characteristic the fight against the Axis by going to the Front of the Armenian people: the “resistance”. Ar- or enrolling themselves into the Resistance, menians are often described as resistant and the most famous of them being Missak Ma- conservative people. Indeed, they protected nouchian, who received a Resistance medal. their language, their culture and traditions Archarg Tchobanian is an Armenian that throughout the centuries despite the fact that exiled himself in France in 1895. He is the they were scattered all over the world. Fran- founder of the armenophile movement in cophilia could have been included in what Ar- France and he convinced many French poli- menians resisted for. First of all, three centu- ticians such as Georges Clémenceau, Jean

84 2020/ 3. Jaurès. Moreover, he also created a pro-Arme- According to the INSEE5, in 2008, 15000 ԱՄԲԵՐԴ ՏԵՂԵԿԱԳԻՐ . АМБЕРД . AMBERD BULLETIN БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ nian committee and a few years after in 1900 persons in metropolitan France were born an armenophile newspaper, Pro-Arménia. Be- in Armenia. The diaspora is concentrated in fore moving to France, he had been translating Marseille, Lyon, Valence, Paris and its sub- French poets and participating in the spread- urbs. Thus, the French Armenian diaspora is ing of French ideas among the Armenian com- the biggest in Western Europe and the third munity. Due to his efforts, France discovered one in the world, after Russia and the United the cultural and artistic dimension of Arme- States. nians but also how the Enlightenment thinking The aim of the Armenian Diaspora Survey was developed among Armenians. Tchobanian (ADS), conducted by the Armenian Institute works can be considered as the contact point, of London, is to inform the public, scholars an achieved symbol, which for eight centuries and policymakers about the reality of the Ar- linked peoples of Armenia and France. menian diaspora in the XXI century. They did These historic relations have consequenc- a study case about the Armenian diaspora in es on political and diplomatic relations nowa- Marseille, a city on the Mediterranean Sea in days. Thus, the diplomatic relations between France. Armenia and France were established in 1992. The first Armenian family to settle in Mar- Indeed, in 1984, Mitterrand, the French pres- seille was the d’Armény, back in 1612. The pa- ident at the time, was one of the first head of triarch of the family, Antoine d’Armény, was state to publicly recognize the Armenian geno- close to Louis Fréjus, a major merchant in the cide of 1915. Then, in 2001, the French Par- city at the time. Thus, the Armenian neighbor- liament voted a law recognizing the genocide. hood in Marseille was established in the XVII However, they still have not managed to make century. Indeed, an Armenian chapel from this the negation of it punishable. Throughout century has been found as well as repositories years, the Armenian and French High Rep- belonging to merchants. There were a lot of resentatives met multiple times, Robert Ko- Armenian merchants in Marseille from the Ot- charyan visited France in 2003, Chirac went toman Empire, willing to establish their busi- to Armenia in 2006 and it was the first time ness in the city. Their presence led Colbert, that a French president visited Armenia. As far one of the ministers of Louis XIV, to create as economic ties are concerned, France main- Marseille's free port of Armenians. Because of ly imports agricultural goods and there are their number, a street was even renamed Rue6 big French companies established in Arme- Armeny. At the end of the XVII century, it is nia such as Pernod Ricard or Veolia. For the said that there were about 400 Armenians in centenary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, Marseille. A 2nd flow of Armenian migration François Hollande was present, confirming his from the Ottoman Empire occurred after the own engagement but also the French one at massacre of 1894-96 and after the Armenian the presidential level in the last ten years. Genocide in 1915. The newcomers were helped The Armenian diaspora in France by those who settled down during the previous There are around 8 to 10 million Arme- centuries. Thus, the Armenian National Union nians around the world and 3 million of them was created in 1923, aiming to help the Arme- live in Armenia, according to estimates of nian refugees of the Camp Oddo7. The next 2020. There is no precise calculation possi- year, they formed a scouting union, Homenet- ble, but it is estimated that in 2011 there are men. At the beginning of the the 20th century around 600,000 Armenians in France and the Armenian diaspora also established itself among them 400,000, were born in France. in terms of politics. Namely, the three major

5 National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. It is the national bureau of statistics in France. 6 Street, in English. 7 Camp for Armenian survivors of the genocide located near Marseille.

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2020/ Armenian political parties - Ramgavar8, Hun- it was the beginning of a new Stalinian re- chakian9 and Dashnaktsutyun10 started oper- pression. When it was possible, many of them ating in Marseille. would leave back to France. There are 900,000 inhabitants in Mar- The French cultural diplomacy seille. Almost one in ten people is Armenian, Cultural and scientific diplomacy is real- indeed the Armenian population would be ly trendy since the 2008 election of Barack about 80,000. Nowadays, a number of or- Obama. Following his first decisions, the de- ganizations continue to keep the community bate around soft power arose again. Cultural alive, such as a football club or Hamaskaïne diplomacy is a contemporary evolution of di- Cultural Association. plomacy, while being a part of foreign affairs. The Armenian Genocide is one of the de- This is a policy that aims at exporting values fining elements of the diaspora and its migra- of a national culture and to interact with other tions. It marked a change of scale, after the cultures. This is part of soft power, a notion genocide we can talk about a great diaspora. developed by Joseph Nye at the end of the After the Armenian Genocide and the 1922 20th century in his book Bound to Lead. It is massacres, many Armenians from Anatolia and an international relations concept explaining Cilicia left for France where there was already how a country can achieve its ends by using its an established diaspora. Most Armenians were power of attraction.

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ И МИР . ARMENIA AND WORLD . WORLD И МИР . ARMENIA AND ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ killed by the Turks in 1915 in Western Arme- “Proof of power lies not in resources but nia. The survivors were forced to settle down in the ability to change the behavior of state.” in Syria through the Der Zor desert. Thou- Nye, Joseph S. "Soft Power". Foreign Policy, sands of people were killed or died on their no. 80 (1990): 153–71. way. Only a few Armenians remained in Cilicia For Joseph Nye, it is more than just a polit- until 1922. Nevertheless, Armenians from the ical influence. He defined three ways of action: Ottoman Empire represented the majority of the agenda setting, the first tools of a country the diaspora. After the genocide, they are first (its values, culture, etc.) and its diplomatic and considered as stateless and eventually as refu- public policies. In opposition to hard power, gees by the United Nations High Commission- soft power needs civil society to exist. Nothing er for Refugees. can be done without it and nothing against it. After the signing of the Lausanne treaty Since France has always given a great impor- (July 24th, 1923), 2000 new Armenians ar- tance to its language, its culture, we can say it rived in France within a few weeks. Never did is a country of soft power. Cultural diploma- so many Armenians arrive in such a short pe- cy is generally separated from public diplo- riod of time. macy. Thus, cultural diplomacy requires the A lot of them also would leave for the Soviet involvement of the private sector as a partner Republic of Armenia, after the Second World to produce and provide the products, services War, between 1945 and 1948, answering and expertise for international outreach. In the call of the Armenian communists. While practice, it means that a typical state’s cultural leaving, they would bring with them all their diplomacy may involve a host of collaborators, Francophonie and Francophilia back to Arme- from organizations to individuals. Among the nia. Between 5000 and 7000 Armenians left purposes of cultural diplomacy the will to es- France, the country where they were living for tablish a dialogue and building trust with oth- 20 years. However, returning to Motherland er nations, seeking cultural and political rec- did not really meet their expectations, indeed ognition, improving the image and reputation

8 Also known as Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, it is a political party operating within the diaspora that was established in Constantinople in 1921 as the reunion of three previous parties. 9 Also known as the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, it is the oldest continuously operating Armenian political party and was founded in 1887, in Geneva. 10 Also known as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, it has been founded in 1890 in Tbilisi, Georgia. 86 2020/3. ԱՄԲԵՐԴ ՏԵՂԵԿԱԳԻՐ . AMBERD BULLETIN . АМБЕРД БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ 87 ------La Revue Internationale et Internationale LaRevue aises but are under the supervisionaises but are of In Armenia, French is the third foreign lan foreign is the third French In Armenia, One of the pillars of the French exter Oneof the French of the pillars in 130 countries, representing 300,000 stu representing in 130 countries, er Russian and English, according to to guage after Russian and English, according the last report of the Linguistic Observatory of report The mentioned language19. the French pays that Armenia for voluntariness “shown a a linguistic pact indeed, was signed in off”, three in 2016, for extended, 2012 and was in 2017, action An validated plan was years. which aims facet, an educational comprising language taught the third makingat French 43,000 students in all, All the 5th grade. from ority. There are three main directions, “fran main directions, three are There ority. influence the increase that family” cophone trying by countries francophone non the in and finally of French the learning increase to sphere. in the international French promote according to Frédéric Martel in one of Frédéric to 16 according dents his articles. language. policynal cultural the French is de la langue the Observatoire to According and their last report17 française there in 2018, can be million people that 300 around are on all are and they francophone considered It is the 5th most spoken continents. the five English, Chinese, after world language in the is the continent and Spanish. Africa Arabic speakers, half of the French are there where Because that of be precise. to them of 59% for a high priority is area Africa and of history, In of linguistic cooperation. the development interviewan with Affairs Foreign Fabius, 18 Laurent Stratégique the that 2016, reminded 2012 to from minister diplomacy pri a is francophone and cultural ------89, no. 1 (15 n° 89, no. et stratégique internationale Revue aise’. aises pro ç » à la fran un « soft power Vers ‘ have the status of the status have françaises Alliances aises, being in contact with the people, with the people, being in contact aises, Manuel de diplomatie’. In Chapitre 15. La diplomatie culturelle. Presses de Sciences Po, 2018. https://www. Po, Sciences de Presses culturelle. 15. La diplomatie In Chapitre Manuel de diplomatie’. ‘ France is the only democratic country only democratic is the France Power of the first Soft Power ranked was France cairn.info/manuel-de-diplomatie--9782724622904-page-263.htm Alliances. French in 1789. the Revolution before centuries the two society for the French to Name given ç fran almost the same goals as the Alliances share they Institutes, French the Cultural minister and the Europe and Foreign Affairs one. Affairs and Foreign and the Europe minister the Cultural cinema. French and spreading promoting Organization Martel, Frédéric. March 2013): 67–7 https://www.cairn.info/revue-internationale-et-strategique-2013-1-page-67.htmMarch country in country by about French data It collects and analyses language. Linguistic Observatory of the French about it. do statistics to order journal https://www.cairn.info/revue-internationale-et-strate and Strategic International The gique-2013-1-page-51.htm - 238. https://www.francophonie.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Edition%202019%20La%20langue%20fran Page caise%20dans%20le%20monde_VF%202020%20.pdf mote the French language and culture in the language and culture the French mote being implemented. are they country where 14 98 Instituts français has currently France The françaises. Alliances and 813 Alliances ç fran Moreover, spirit. a francophone created really supported held and the civil so are they by were created. However, we can even talk can even we However, created. es12 were diplomacy cultural during the about French were Régime13 when most diplomats Ancient ç fran Alliances The literary men. icy through the state and has a budget for and has a budget for icy the state through Marie-Christine to 11. Its according Kessler it, the end of diplomacy back to cultural dates français XIX century when the first Alliances that is conducting its external cultural pol is conducting cultural its external that tries. Cultural diversity is one of the pillars of is one of the pillars diversity Cultural tries. It means not only policy. foreign the French but culture of all languages and the promotion diversity. French the of demonstration the also 30 ranking in 2017 and 2019. French cultur and 2019. French in 2017 30 ranking al diplomacy culture ideas: on two is based the It and non-political. allowed is universal coun in numerous its ideas spread country to of the national culture can be mentioned. can be mentioned. culture of the national ciety of the country where they are located, located, are they cietycountry of the where since local associations and are managed by locals. locals. managed by and are local associations such have only country is the to France Thus, country active is also The network. a cultural 15, in the in the cinema industry with Unifrance The etc. industry, book in the music industry, important is also really network educational schools French are there indeed, policy, its for 11 In 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 3

2020/ learn French in Armenia, according to this re- French-Armenian high school, encourage the port. There is an international French school, diffusion of French-speaking films, having named Anatole France, which is delivering signs in French in touristic areas, etc. Eduard French education. The head of the French Nalbandyan, who was the Minister of Foreign chair mentions that the French university in Affairs from 2008 to 2018, was really devoted Armenia guarantees a strong position for the to the idea of Armenia being a member of the Francophonie in terms of higher education. OIF. It is during his term that Armenia became There are certainly French classes in many a member and he put a lot of effort in the other universities, where students can study organization of the Yerevan Summit in 2018. French as a second language. In 2015, Armenia hosted the 31st ministeri- Anaida Gasparyan who works at the French al Conference of the Francophonie, emphasiz- university in Armenia helped me with the re- ing its commitment to the Organization. Then, search data collection. To the question on in 2018, Yerevan welcomed a Francophonie students’ choice of learning French, her main Summit. The Summits are the highest instance point was that the Armenians consider France of Francophonie. There is a Summit every two to be the country of love, and Paris sounds years which is presided by the government like a dreamy city. In Armenia, they also listen hosting it. They determine new members' sta- to French songs, the most famous singer be- tus and the orientations of Francophonie. The ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ И МИР . ARMENIA AND WORLD . WORLD И МИР . ARMENIA AND ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ ing Charles Aznavour. He created a strong link next Summit is at the end of 2020 in Tunis, between the two countries and is really known it is the 50th anniversary of the organisation. both in Armenia and in France. All of these an- The last summit was held in Armenia in 2018. swers are part of soft power meaning France The date was corresponding with the anniver- sounds attractive to students that is why they sary of Yerevan’s foundation 2800 years ago. study the language. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the Armenian min- An achievement: Armenia is ister of Foreign Affairs since 2018, in an in- a permanent member of the terview about the Yerevan Summit of the OIF International Organization mentioned that linguistic diversity is really im- for Francophonie portant for a small country such as Armenia. TThe International Organization for Fran- Indeed, being able to speak different languag- cophonie (OIF), founded in 1970, is an orga- es is an asset when one wants to develop re- nization promoting multilateral francophone lationships with partners. Also, Armenia and cooperation among its members, states and France have historic and deep ties. Armenia governments. Members have in common the always supported the values of France. For the French language and values such as cultural minister, being a member of the organization diversity, peace, and democratic governance. is not only a matter of language but also a way In 2004, Armenia was accepted into the to support and defend democracy and human organization as an observer which was the rights. first achievement. Then, in 2008, following Conclusion the Quebec Summit, Armenia became an as- The first contact between Armenia and sociate member making the country the 54th France developed through centuries which to join the Francophonie which was followed has been maintained ever after. This is the by Armenia becoming a permanent member first explanation to understand the Armenian in 2012. As a full member of the Francopho- Francophile movement. Since the two nations nie, Armenia and the organization signed a lived together for a few centuries it has left linguistic agreement for three years. It con- traces in the collective memory. Nevertheless, cerns tourism, communication, culture and it is not enough to explain the status of French education, among others. The objectives in the country and its popularity especially are to develop French in schools, create a because history is not sufficient to explain a

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francophone movement. To keep a movement and other francophone countries stand for as ԱՄԲԵՐԴ ՏԵՂԵԿԱԳԻՐ . АМБЕРД . AMBERD BULLETIN БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ alive, there is a need of actors currently advo- a sign of Francophilia. cating it. Through this research, we tried to shed Therefore, history and the memorial her- light on many dynamisms happening in Ar- itage of a nation are not the only reason we menia. The purpose was to understand Fran- can talk about a Francophile movement in cophilia in Armenia and we tried to provide Armenia. It is essential to mention the dias- partial answers to this broad question. More- pora. There are more Armenians outside of over, we tried by analyzing the key concepts Armenia than within the borders. The diaspo- to make this question more approachable. To ra plays a key role in keeping an interest in be self-critical, it should be mentioned that we France in particular because the country hosts have missed diverse points of views concern- one of the prominent Armenian diasporas in ing this issue, which might pose more ques- the world. The Genocide of 1915 shaped the tions and riddles. Nevertheless, we did our diaspora and France was one of the countries best to reveal and identify some key points where the Armenians massively fled to at that related to the research topic. time. It signifies the fact that France had a spe- Thus, our question was to understand the cial place in the collective imaginary. Many Armenian Francophile movement and, more also returned to Armenia after World War II precisely, the interest in the French language. to eventually leave again for France. These The Francophile movement finds its origins movements of population are the source of in history and that was built throughout this the spread of values and in our case, of the history. However, as it has been mentioned French ones. above, there is a need of actors to keep the What was relevant to understand is how movement alive. We can mention the diaspora the French cultural diplomacy might have an which is a key actor by its number but also influence in Armenia. Since the French cul- by its movements of population. Of course, tural diplomacy is non-political, it is easier to the Armenian government and the directions be spread and to affect a greater number of it has been taking over the past decades are countries. Thus, in Armenia, French is among crucial. The analysis has shown that Armenia the most spoken languages. Indeed, they work attaches much importance to OIF membership on attaching more importance to learning and respects the engagements it represents. French. This shows the interest of Armenia in Finally, the last actor we consider important the French language at a state level. However, is France and its cultural policies. Indeed, it the best sign of their interest is the member- is through them that the country makes the ship to the OIF. And it goes both ways, Arme- others attracted to its values and its language. nia wants to play a part in the organization, It creates a positive image of France making and OIF trusts Armenia since they will host a people interested to know more about the Ministerial Conference and a Summit in three dreamy idea they have. years. It can be interpreted as a sign of a suc- Acknowledgements cessful French soft power. The OIF does not I would like to thank the head of the French only promote the French language but also chair of French University in Armenia, Anaida peace and democracy. Therefore, Armenia, by Gasparyan, for answering my questions and joining the OIF, does not only join this organi- Dr. Vardan Atoyan from Armenian State Uni- zation for supporting the French language but versity of Economics, my internship tutor, for also for cherishing the values, which France his precious help and support.

90 ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ . АРМЕНИЯ И МИР . ARMENIA AND WORLD . 2020/3 3. 2. 1. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4.

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2020/ 3. Ժուլի ՕԴՈՆ ԱՄԲԵՐԴ ՏԵՂԵԿԱԳԻՐ . АМБЕРД . AMBERD BULLETIN БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ Լիոնի քաղաքական հետազոտությունների ինստիտուտի (Sciences Po Lyon, France) ուսանող, ՀՊՏՀ «Ամբերդ» հետազոտական կենտրոնի փորձնակ (պրակտիկանտ)

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ ԵՎ ԱՇԽԱՐՀ ՖՐԱՆԿՈՖԻԼԻԱ. ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ «ՔԵՅՍԸ»

Ակադեմիական գրականությունը հարուստ է ֆրանկոֆիլիային նվիրված բազմաթիվ աշխա տություններով: Այնուամենայնիվ, դրանց մեծամասնությունը կապված է աֆրիկյան կամ ֆրանսա խոս երկրների հետ: Հայաստանում ֆրանկոֆիլիայի հետազոտումն ինչ-որ առումով նոր հայացք է տվյալ հարցին և ընդգծում է այն փաստը, որ վերջինս արմատավորվել է նաև ոչ ֆրանսախոս երկրներում: Այս հոդվածում հեղինակը փորձել է բացահայտել Հայաստանում ֆրանկոֆիլիայի երևույթը, դրա առաջացման արմատները, նախադրյալները, դերակատարներին և ձևավորման շարժընթացը: Ուսումնասիրելով թեմային նվիրված հրապարակումներ, ինչպես նաև կիրառելով հարցազրույցների մեթոդը՝ նա հանգել է այն եզրակացության, որ ֆրանսերենն ամբողջ աշ խարհում, այդ թվում՝ Հայաստանում հանրաճանաչ է՝ հիմնականում շնորհիվ Ֆրանսիայի վա րած քաղաքականության և փափուկ ուժի: Միաժամանակ, հեղինակը խոստովանել է, որ այս հարցի հետագա և առավել խոր վերլուծության համար կարևորվում են այլ աղբյուրների ուսում նասիրությունն ու դրանցրառումը: կի

Հիմնաբառեր. ֆրանկոֆիլիա, սփյուռք, փափուկ ուժ, լեզու, Ֆրանկոֆոնիայի միջազգային կազմակերպություն

Джули ОДДОН Студентка института политических исследований (Sciences Po Lyon), Лион, Франция Практикантка исследовательского центра «Амберд», АГЭУ АРМЕНИЯ И МИР ФРАНКОФИЛИЯ: КЕЙС АРМЕНИИ

В научной литературе можно встретить множество исследований о франкофилии. Тем не менее, большинство из них связаны с африканскими или франкоязычными странами. Изучение франкофилии в Армении - это в некоторой степени новый взгляд на данный вопрос, подчер кива ющий тот факт, что франкофилия также укоренилась в странах, которые не говорят на французском. В рамках данного исследования мы попытались раскрыть феномен, корни, пред посылки, основных действующих лиц и динамику формирования франкофильства в Армении. В процессе исследования были изучены публикации по этой теме, был также использован метод интервью. Главный и наиболее очевидный вывод нашего исследования заключается в том, что во всем мире, в том числе и в Армении, французский язык популярен отчасти благодаря политике и мягкой силе Франции. Надо также признать, что для дальнейшего и более глубокого анализа вопроса необходимо будет изучить и использовать другие источники.

Ключевые слова: франкофилия, диаспора, мягкая сила, язык, Международная Организация Франкофонии