Social remittances- the transfer of ideas, practices, and codes of behaviors- are a well-documented subject in migrant transnationalism literature and transnational family studies. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has generated unprecedented regulations around the world which require widening the conceptual basis of social remittances in a state of emergency. As the pandemic progresses, most countries require civilians to follow a number of norms deemed as the “new normality,” while other countries continue to operate under their “old normality,” with minor or no restrictions. As national pandemic policy responses vary across countries, transnational families live under different regimes of “normality.” In these settings, the study of transnational families offers a valuable opportunity to examine a special type of social remittances practiced during global crises, and analyze whether the exchange of rules, practices, and ideas across national borders has any impact on re-shaping and renegotiating pandemic-coping “new normality” practices for both migrants and their families. The paper is based on 13 in-depth interviews conducted with representatives from Armenian transnational families with migrant members in Russia, the Czech Republic, or Belarus. These countries provide a backdrop for an examination of social remittances among transnational families that we term “pandemic transnationalism.” The study shows that the circulation of safety rules and “good practices” actively shapes the everyday behavior of migrants and their families, their level of perceived danger towards the coronavirus, and their practical knowledge of safety measures. The latter are often harnessed in informal collective settings despite being in conflict with the obligations and regulations of their home society.

Հոդվածում անդրադառնում ենք արևմտյան երկրներում հայկական սփյուռքի միգրացիոն ցանցի միջոցով հետխորհրդային Հայաստանի բնակչության արտագաղթի խնդրին՝ համակողմանիորեն քննարկելով ցանցի դերն այդ գործընթացում՝ նոր միգրանտների ներգրավման, նրանց տեղափոխման ծախսերի կրճատման, ռիսկերի նվազեցման, ցուցաբերած աջակցության ձևերի և օտար միջավայրում հարմարման հարցերում: The article addresses the problem of emigration of the post-Soviet population of Armenia through the migration network of the Armenian diaspora in Western countries. It comprehensively discusses the role of a migrant network in the process of attracting new migrants, reducing their transportation costs, reducing risks, providing support, and adapting to a foreign environment. Введение: В статье содержится обращение к проблеме эмиграции населения постсоветской Армении в западные страны посредством миграционной сети армянской Диаспоры с всесторонним рассмотрением роли сети в этом процессе - по вопросам привлечения новых мигрантов, сокращения расходов на их перемещение, уменьшения рисков при их перемещении, форм оказания им содействия и их устройства в чужой среде.