Research Article
The Humanitarian and Educational Assistance of Evangelicals and American Missionaries to the Armenian People (1915–1945)
Astghik Ghazaryan*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
1-5
Received:
3 December 2025
Accepted:
16 December 2025
Published:
16 January 2026
Abstract: Following the Armenian Genocide, the activities of the Armenian Evangelical Association of America within the diaspora focused on preserving and restoring national, religious and cultural identity. The genocide caused a social, spiritual and educational crisis that required comprehensive support, with evangelical churches, associations and American missionary organisations playing an important role. Their activities covered the spiritual, educational and social spheres, thereby contributing to community stability and the reorganisation of Armenian communities on social and institutional levels. Education was the primary focus of the missionaries' activities. From the 1920s onwards, educational centres were established and reopened, combining teaching with the promotion of Christian values and moral education. Alongside the study of Holy Scripture, evangelical schools placed great emphasis on teaching the Armenian language and literature, as well as prayer in the native language. This approach was crucial for preserving Armenian identity and transmitting cultural values in a foreign environment. The missionaries also played a significant role by learning the Armenian language, teaching in Armenian and helping to improve educational centres and provide educational materials. Historically, these organisations' activities coincided with the reorganisation and restoration of Armenian diaspora communities' identities. They promoted the development of education and spirituality, and served as a means of social networking, facilitating the formation of new communities and fostering clear internal relations. Evangelical schools and centres provided a cultural platform through which the younger generation could engage with the Armenian language, literature, and Christian values, thereby strengthening their sense of community and identity. This study aims to shed new light on the Armenian Evangelical Association of America and American missionaries by analysing their organisational structures and evaluating their influence on the social, educational, and institutional life of Armenian communities. These organisations' activities have therefore made an important contribution to the spiritual, educational and cultural restoration of the Armenian people, strengthening their national identity in the face of new historical realities.
Abstract: Following the Armenian Genocide, the activities of the Armenian Evangelical Association of America within the diaspora focused on preserving and restoring national, religious and cultural identity. The genocide caused a social, spiritual and educational crisis that required comprehensive support, with evangelical churches, associations and American...
Show More
Research Article
French Parliamentary Oversight of the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 1, June 2026
Pages:
6-16
Received:
31 October 2025
Accepted:
10 December 2025
Published:
19 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.history.20261401.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: This article examines the French National Assembly's reaction to the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda, before, during, and after the massacre, and how this dramatic event reveals the nature of the institutions of the Fifth Republic, "a presidentialized parliamentary regime," as well as their dysfunctions. The cooperation agreements signed between France and Rwanda in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s generated little parliamentary debate. French deputies did, however, question ministers both orally and in writing in the early 1990s, as France became militarily involved. But they encountered obstacles related to the Constitution of the Fifth Republic and presidential practices. The head of the executive branch has enjoyed autonomy of action in military and diplomatic matters since General de Gaulle. Seemingly powerless, they nevertheless acted in the face of the genocide of the Tutsi (April-July 1994). They addressed written and oral questions to the ministers. Most sessions in the National Assembly provide an opportunity for members of both the majority and the opposition to question ministers about the situation in Rwanda during the question period in Parliament. Following the genocide, parliamentarians exercised multifaceted oversight of France, utilizing the full range of powers granted to them by the Constitution. They submitted written and oral questions to the government on various post-genocide issues up until the fifteenth legislature. In 1998, members of parliament employed a new approach that renewed their oversight role: the fact-finding mission on Rwanda. Finally, the issue of the genocide against the Tutsi was addressed through hearings, a standard method for gathering information for the legislative branch. Political figures and experts can be heard by parliamentary committees that deem their testimony valuable. Ultimately, French members of parliament acted within the framework defined by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, without being able to influence the policies of the Élysée Palace before or after 1994. The limitations of their actions reflect the dysfunctions of the French presidential parliamentary system. This is the conclusion reached by the 1998 fact-finding mission and the Duclert report presented in 2021. This explains the new directions given to parliamentary oversight in the 21st century.
Abstract: This article examines the French National Assembly's reaction to the genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda, before, during, and after the massacre, and how this dramatic event reveals the nature of the institutions of the Fifth Republic, "a presidentialized parliamentary regime," as well as their dysfunctions. The cooperation agreements signed between Fr...
Show More
