The Armenians: From Kings and Priests to Merchants and Commissars, Razmik Panossian (hardcover)

The Armenians traces the evolution of Armenia and Armenian collective identity from its beginnings to the Gharabagh movement. Razmik Panossian analyzes different elements of Armenian identity construction and argues that national identity is modern, predominantly subjective, and based on a political sense of belonging. Yet he also acknowledges the crucial role of history, art, literature, religious practice, and commerce in preserving the national memory and shaping the cultural identity of the Armenian people.

The author shows how a series of landmark events led to a “multilocal” evolution of identity in various places in and outside of Armenia. Today, these numerous identities contribute to deep divisions and tensions within the Armenian nation, but considering the diversity of this single nation, Panossian questions the theoretical assumption that nationalism must be homogenizing.