Armenia: A Country's History of Challenges

Abstract

The example of a small nation of three‐and‐a‐half million people is selected to conceptualize thriving in reference to the individual, the nuclear and extended family, the community, the state, the geopolitics of the land, the diaspora, and the cultural traditions. Armenia is selected not only because it is unique in the amount of adversity it has endured, but also because, as a very small nation, it has survived the challenges of centuries whereas other comparable civilizations have not. The article analyzes the cultural and geo‐historical characteristics of Armenia, the development and role of a diaspora in the preservation of identity, and the contribution of parenting in the development of resilience and thriving. The article concludes that the strength of the family and child‐rearing practices contributes to thriving of the individual and society. In addition, cultural factors, such as the arts, literature, sports, institutions, the church, intercultural networks, and the need to make up for the damages of genocide, earthquakes, and other adversities, contribute to the strength of the people. The article proposes that these characteristics of one society, albeit a small one, are suggestive of the universal human characteristics that contribute to thriving.