This research delves into the politics of place-naming in modern Armenia, focusing on how geographical names were systematically altered in the country during 2006-2018 in line with the nationalist discourse on autochthony. It analyzes over 27,000 geographical names and their changes, revealing motivations rooted in nation-state-building and the nationalist discourse on autochthony.

The research also explores the legal and administrative frameworks behind these renaming practices.

The study highlights how the policies of place-name changes in the country aimed to create a homogenous state space by replacing names of Turkic, Russian, and Kurdish origins and association with those deemed “Armenian.” Also, the broader implications of these practices, including exclusion and domination, within the context of nationalism and governmentality are discussed.

The research has been published as a paper in the Central Asian Survey journal titled “Conceiving homogenous state-space for the nation: the nationalist discourse on autochthony and the politics of place-naming in Armenia”. The paper is available in the publications section of this website.

The research and findings are also discussed on the CaucasusTalks platform.