Humanitarianism and Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh

Violence and Humanitarianism in Nagorno-Karabakh: Sovereignty, Memory and Global Entanglements (1990s–2023)
How do violence and humanitarianism intersect in conflict zones, and how are they shaped by contested sovereignty and collective memory? The central premise of this project is that humanitarian aid cannot be understood in isolation from the political and social contexts in which it is deployed. While existing research has explored the geopolitical and military aspects of conflicts, the role of humanitarianism in these contexts remains underexplored. This study examines how violence and humanitarian practices have shaped the lives of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh from the First Karabakh War to the 2023 blockade and exodus. It explores the ways in which international, diaspora and local actors responded to violence through aid, while also analysing the political dimensions of humanitarian actions. By focusing on the lived experiences of those receiving aid, this project aims to understand how these practices become entangled with narratives of suffering, survival and political mobilisation. The aim is to contribute to broader discussions on the relationship between violence, sovereignty and humanitarianism in unrecognised or contested states.